Aerospace Engineering
- 1. AEROSPACE GRADUATE PROGRAM OVERVIEW ENGINEERING MASTER OF SCIENCE MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM M.S. CURRICULUM The program of study leading to the master’s The master of science degree can be earned in one of three major areas: aerodynamics Areas of Specialization: degree in aerospace engineering is offered in and fluid dynamics, aerospace structures and materials, and combustion and propulsion. the three listed areas of specialization. The Aerodynamics and Fluid Because the purpose of each program is to prepare the student for either a challeng- minimum program requirements consist of nine Dynamics ing professional career in industry or for further graduate study, the programs do not credit hours of core courses, six credit hours of mathematics and 15 credit hours (which may Aerospace Structures permit narrow specialization. Emphasis is on required course work in several disciplines include six credit hours of thesis) of electives. and Materials in which an advanced-degree engineer in a typical industrial position is expected to have Within the 15 credit hours of electives, six credit knowledge and problem-solving expertise beyond that normally obtained during an hours of course work are restricted electives. Combustion and The department maintains a list of restricted undergraduate engineering education. Propulsion electives for each specialization. The master of science degree can be earned on either a full-time or a part-time basis. The nine credit hours of core courses must be DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Full-time students can complete the program in a minimum of three semesters (four in chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser the case of graduate student assistants). Students beginning their course work during from one of the lists below. the spring semester will be able to register for full course loads, although the commence- ACTING HEAD Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics ment of thesis work will normally be delayed. MAE 5110 Continuum Mechanics Paavo Sepri, Ph.D., Head MAE 5120 Aerodynamics of Wings Graduate student assistants are required to take the one-week teaching seminar offered PROFESSOR and Bodies in mid-August each year. MAE 5130 Viscous Flows T. Dwayne McCay, Ph.D. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS MAE 5140 Experimental Fluid Dynamics ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS MAE 5150 Computational Fluid Dynamics An applicant should have an undergraduate major in a field related to aerospace MAE 5180 Turbulent Flows David C. Fleming, Ph.D. engineering. Applicants whose bachelor’s degrees are in other fields are normally Chelakara S. Subramanian, Ph.D. Aerospace Structures and Materials required to take some undergraduate course work in addition to the program described MAE 5050 Finite Element Fundamentals below, as determined by the department head. Applications are also invited from gradu- MAE 5410 Elasticity ates with undergraduate majors in the physical sciences or mathematics. In these cases, MAE 5430 Design of Aerospace Structures at least one year of undergraduate course work in aerospace engineering is normally MAE 5460 Fracture Mechanics and required before starting the master of science program. In evaluating an international Fatigue of Materials MAE 5470 Principles of Composite Materials application, due consideration is given to academic standards in the country where the MAE 5480 Structural Dynamics undergraduate studies have been performed. Combustion and Propulsion Master’s applicants should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. MAE 5130 Viscous Flows Applicants from foreign countries must meet the same requirements as applicants from MAE 5150 Computational Fluid Dynamics the United States. MAE 5310 Combustion Fundamentals MAE 5320 Internal Combustion Engines General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the MAE 5350 Gas Turbines Graduate Information and Regulations section of the University Catalog. MAE 5360 Hypersonic Air-breathing Engines Electives are selected from these course DEGREE REQUIREMENTS offerings and appropriate courses in The Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering is offered with both thesis and nonthesis mathematics, in consultation with the student’s options. Each option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work. Prior to the adviser and committee. The topics of emphasis completion of nine credit hours, the student must submit for approval a master’s degree for aerospace engineering in the three areas of specialization include aerodynamics, program plan to indicate the path chosen and the specific courses to be taken. For the computational fluid dynamics, experimental fluid thesis option, up to six credit hours of thesis work may be included in the 30 credit dynamics, flow instability theory, combustion, hours’ requirement. The thesis can be primarily analytical, computational or experimen- aerospace propulsion and power, aerospace tal; or it can be some combination of these. In each case, students must demonstrate structures, composite materials, fracture mechanics and fatigue of materials. the ability to read the appropriate engineering literature, to learn independently and to express themselves well technically, both orally and in writing. For the nonthesis option, a PH.D. CURRICULUM student may replace the thesis with additional elective courses and a final comprehensive The doctoral program of study must be approved by the student’s advisory committee examination, following approval of a written petition submitted to the department head. and the department head. Considerable latitude Generally, students wishing to pursue an academic career are encouraged to choose the is allowable in course selection, although thesis option. appropriate advanced courses are expected to form a part of the student’s program. A DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE PROGRAM representative distribution of these courses taken beyond the bachelor’s degree should The doctor of philosophy degree program is offered for students who wish to carry out include, as a minimum, five courses in the advanced research in any of the three areas of specialization listed under the master of major area and four, three and three courses science program. Other research areas within the field of aerospace engineering, which (in any combination) in the two related areas may be very actively pursued elsewhere, may not correlate well with current faculty inter- and mathematics. These choices provide for the selection of three additional courses as electives. ests and facility capabilities at Florida Tech and, therefore, may not be viable fields for The following illustrates a representative doctoral study at this university. doctoral program of study beyond the bachelor’s degree. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Major Area (Specialization) ..........................15 A candidate for the doctoral program in aerospace engineering will normally have com- Two Related Areas (Specializations) pleted a master’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering and have adequate and Mathematics......................................30 preparation in areas of fundamental science and mathematics. Alternatively, a student Electives .........................................................9 College of Engineering Dissertation (includes 6 credit hours Department of Mechanical enrolled in the master’s program may apply to work directly toward the doctoral degree thesis, if completed) ................................36 and Aerospace Engineering after completing at least 18 credit hours of graduate course work at Florida Tech with a TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 90 150 West University Boulevard cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. Selected course offerings from other engineering and science programs can be taken to fulfill Melbourne, Florida 32901-6975 Doctoral applicants should have superior academic records, provide letters of recom- the elective requirements. Each student takes (321) 674-8092 mendation and take the Graduate Record Examination General Test. electives from the course listings and from www.fit.edu General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Gradu- mathematics based on his or her areas of interest and in consultation with his or her ate Information and Regulations section of the University Catalog. committee. GA-187-405I Degrees continued on reverse
- 2. Degrees continued from front RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES DEGREE REQUIREMENTS The research facilities of the aero- The degree of doctor of philosophy is conferred primarily in recognition of creative space engineering program include accomplishment and the ability to investigate scientific or engineering problems inde- laboratories in energy research, pendently, rather than for completion of a definite curriculum. The program consists of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, advanced studies and research leading to a significant contribution to the knowledge combustion and propulsion, metal- lurgy and solid mechanics, system of a particular problem. A student’s research may have analytical, computational or dynamics and control, instrumen- experimental components, or some combination of these. Each student is expected to tation and applied laser research, complete an approved program of study beyond that required for a master’s degree, pass computer-aided design and computa- the comprehensive examination (both written and oral parts), present a dissertation pro- tional research. Other laboratories posal acceptable to the student’s committee, complete a program of significant original around the campus can also be used research, and prepare and defend a dissertation detailing the research work. by aerospace engineering gradu- The program consists of 90 credit hours of study beyond the bachelor’s degree or 60 ate students performing advanced credit hours beyond the master’s degree. Candidates from both the thesis and nonthesis research. master’s programs may be admitted into the doctoral program. However, students from Funded research activities of the the second category must have demonstrated exceptional potential for advanced study aerospace and mechanical engineer- to be admitted. Of the 90 credit hours, 36 shall be for dissertation registration, although ing faculty have included studies of six credit hours of successfully completed master’s thesis registration will normally be efficient heat transfer and insulation accepted into this category. mechanisms in building environ- The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to cover the student’s major field of ments; combustion in porous media; study and related fields important to the major field. The examination is given when, in advanced heating, ventilation and the judgment of the student’s advisory committee, the student has had sufficient prepa- air-conditioning; fuel systems; computations of radiative trans- ration in his/her field of study by completing significant course work in at least three port; computational mechanics with areas of specialization, as well as in mathematics, and by initiating doctoral research. emphasis on damage mechanisms The examination must normally be taken before the end of the student’s fourth academic in laminated composite structures; semester after admission into the doctoral program. The written portion of the examina- crashworthiness of aircraft struc- tion consists of individual parts given by each member of the advisory committee. These tures; computation of flows in tur- written examinations are intended to cover each of the student’s areas of specializa- bine blade environments; turbulent tion and applied mathematics. The written portion of the comprehensive examination is boundary-layer structure with flexible followed by an oral component that provides the advisory committee an opportunity to roughness; experimental studies of complete the examinations in each of the student’s areas of study. Subsequent to com- pressure and/or temperature-sensi- pletion of both written and oral components of the comprehensive examination, a dis- tive paints; material characterization sertation proposal must be submitted to the student’s advisory committee for evaluation. using CW and short-pulse lasers; Upon determining that the proposed research is of doctoral quality and that completion is analysis and computation of natural feasible, the student is advanced to candidacy for the doctoral degree. convection; study of leaks in cryo- General degree requirements are presented in the Graduate Information and Regulations genic seals; and turbulent transport section of the University Catalog. of moisture contained in air streams. Other studies have involved convec- tion and diffusion of radon gas in porous media, smart composite structures with embedded sensors and optimization of composites. Laboratories include the Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the Aero- space Structures Laboratory. The Fluid Dynamics Laboratory features a low-speed, low-turbulence wind tunnel of open-return type, with a square test section 0.535 m on a side and 1.6 m long. The speed FINANCIAL AID Florida Tech is the only comprehensive, FOR MORE INFORMATION range is from zero to 42 m/s. The Graduate student assistantships for independent scientific and technological To obtain more detailed information mean turbulence level is a few hun- instruction and research are available university in the southeast. Supported by about this Graduate Program or to dredths of 1 percent at the lowest to well-qualified master’s and doctoral both industry and the community, Florida obtain application materials, visit tunnel speeds. The Aerospace Struc- degree students. Assistantships carry Tech is the recipient of many research our home page at www.fit.edu/grad tures Laboratory features a drop- stipends plus a tuition waiver. In some or the University Catalog at grants and contracts, a number of which tower for impact testing of structures cases, a tuition waiver alone may be provide financial support for graduate www.fit.edu/catalog, or contact: and materials. This laboratory also awarded for a limited amount of service. students. Florida Institute of Technology has a shaker table for the vibration Assistantships for master’s degree Office of Graduate Admissions testing of structures. There are also LOCATION students are normally for an academic 150 W. University Blvd. ovens, vacuum pumps and other Melbourne is located on the central east paraphernalia needed for the custom year; assistantships for doctoral stu- Melbourne, FL 32901-6975 coast of Florida. The area offers a delight- preparation of material specimens dents are renewable on a yearly basis. (321) 674-8027 ful year-round subtropical climate and is from advanced composite materials. (321) 723-9468/Fax THE UNIVERSITY 10 minutes from the ocean and beaches. (800) 944-4348 Aerospace engineering students also Florida Institute of Technology is a Kennedy Space Center and the massive have access to other laboratories distinctive, independent university, NASA complex are just 45 minutes north in the College of Engineering. Of founded in 1958 by a group of scien- of Melbourne. The city of Orlando, Walt special interest in this context are the tists and engineers to fulfill the need Disney World, EPCOT and many other laboratories listed in the mechanical for specialized, advanced educational attractions are one hour west of Florida engineering portion of this catalog, opportunities of Florida’s Space Coast. Tech’s main campus. because the aerospace engineering program has many laboratory courses in common with the Florida Institute of Technology is an independent university located in Melbourne, Florida. Florida Tech is accredited by mechanical engineering program. the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Florida Tech admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to its programs.