GuruIntroduction
Aerospace engineering stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of conquering the skies and beyond. This field, nestled at the intersection of aeronautics and astronautics, has propelled humanity into the vastness of space and has transformed the way we navigate and explore our own atmosphere. In this blog, we embark on a journey through the fascinating world of aerospace engineering, exploring its history, the intricacies of aircraft and spacecraft design, and the groundbreaking technologies shaping the future.
What is the aerodynamics?
Aerodynamics examines how forces act on objects and how those objects move through the air. The term combines two Greek words: aerios (concerning the air) and dynamis (force). Humans have shown interest in flight and aerodynamics for thousands of years, as seen in the story of Daedalus and Icarus. In the last century, engineers finally built heavier-than-air machines that could fly. Aerodynamics shapes the motion of high-speed machines like aircraft and rockets, as well as low-speed ones like cars and trains.
Therefore, we define aerodynamics as a branch of dynamics that focuses on the motion of air, especially when it interacts with solid objects. It falls under the broader fields of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics. People often use the term interchangeably with gas dynamics, although gas dynamics applies to all gases, not just air.
Understanding the flow field around an object is essential for calculating the forces and moments acting on the object. Typical properties calculated for a flow field include velocity, pressure,density, and temperature as a function of spatial position and time.
Aerodynamics allows the definition and solution of equations for the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy in air. The use of aerodynamics through mathematical analysis, empirical approximations, wind tunnel experimentation, and computer simulations forms the scientific basis for heavier-than-air flight and a number of other technologies.
Aerodynamic problems can be classified according to the flow environment.External aerodynamics is the study of flow around solid objects of various shapes. Evaluating the lift and drag on an airplane or the shock waves that form in front of the nose of a rocket are examples of external aerodynamics. Internal aerodynamics is the study of flow through passages in solid objects. For instance, internal aerodynamics encompasses the study of the airflow through a jet engine.
We can also classify aerodynamic problems based on whether the flow speed falls below, near, or above the speed of sound. We call a problem subsonic when all speeds remain below the speed of sound, transonic when the flow includes speeds both below and above it, supersonic when the flow speed exceeds it, and hypersonic when the flow speed reaches more than five times the speed of sound.
Viscosity in the flow creates a third way to classify aerodynamic problems. Some problems involve only minor viscous effects, so we can treat viscosity as negligible. In these cases, we call the flow inviscid. When viscous effects play a significant role and we cannot ignore them, we classify the flow as viscous.
The Genesis of Aerospace Engineering:
Aerospace activity
- The industry, manufacturer of products.
- The airlines, transporters of goods and people.
- The military air forces, demanders of high-level technologies.
- The space agencies, explorers of the space.
- The infrastructures on earth, supporter of air operations.
- The research institutions, guarantors of technological progress.
- The international organizations, providers of jurisprudence.
The aerospace industry
Experts consider the aerospace industry a strategic activity because it operates as a high-technology sector with significant economic impact. The aerospace sector contributes strongly to economic growth around the world. In Europe, the aerospace industry represents a pinnacle of manufacturing. In 2010, it directly employed almost half a million highly skilled people and continues to spin out technology to other sectors.
Air transport-related activities supported about 2.6 million indirect jobs and contributed around €250 billion (about 2.5%) to European gross domestic product in 2010. As a result, the aerospace industry plays a vital economic role in Europe. It invests heavily in Research and Development (R&D) compared to other industrial sectors and serves as a major driver of innovation.
The aerospace industry accomplish three kind of activities: aeronautics (integrated by airships,propulsion systems and infrastructures and equipments);space and missiles.Grosso modo the aeronautical industry constitutes around the 80-90% of the total activity.
- Great dynamism in the cycle research-project-manufacture-commercialization.
- Specific technologies in the vanguard which spin-out to other sectors.
- High-skilled people.
- Limited series (non mass production) and difficult automation of manufacturing processes.
- Long term development of new projects.
- Need for huge amount of capital funding.
- Governmental intervention and international cooperation.
A strong link between research and project manufacturing remains essential because the market stays highly competitive, and every product must meet strict safety and reliability requirements to earn certification. To stay ahead in such a competitive environment, the industry must continuously drive technological advancement.
The quantity of units produced a year is rather small if we compare it with other manufacture sectors (automobile manufacturing, for instance). An airship factory only produces tens of units a year; in the case of space vehicles the common practice is to produce a unique unit. These facts give a qualitative measure of the difficulties in automating manufacturing processes in order to reduce variable costs.
Governments intervene in the aerospace sector through several channels. They participate directly by owning shares in companies—many aerospace firms in Spain and Europe operate as state-owned enterprises. They also intervene indirectly by providing research subsidies. In some cases, governments act as direct clients, especially in military aviation. Since many companies lack the critical size to absorb the high costs and risks of large-scale projects, they often form long-term alliances to develop specific aircraft (like Airbus) or jet engines (such as International Aero Engines or Eurojet).
Comparison between flag companies and low cost companies in aerospace industry
| Flag companies | Low Cost companies |
|---|---|
| Operate hubs and spoke | Operate point to point |
| Hubs in primary international airports | Mostly regional airports |
| Long rotation times (50 min) | Short rotation times (25 min) |
| Short and long haul routes | Short haul routes |
| Mixed fleets | Standardized fleets |
| Low density seats layout | High density seats layout |
| Selling: agencies and internet | Selling: internet |
| Extras included (Business, VIP lounges, catering) | No extras included in the tickets |
Airlines
Among the many components of the air transportation industry, airlines are the most visible and interact directly with passengers. They provide air transport for people and/or cargo, using aircraft they own or lease. Airlines often form alliances—like Oneworld, SkyTeam, or Star Alliance—for shared benefits. They range from small cargo operators to large international carriers and offer services that can be intercontinental, domestic, regional, or charter-based.
The first airlines operated dirigibles, with DELAG (Deutsche Luftschiffahrts Aktiengesellschaft), founded on November 16, 1909, recognized as the world’s first. It used airships built by the Zeppelin company. The four oldest surviving nondirigible airlines are KLM (Netherlands), Avianca (Colombia), Qantas (Australia), and Czech Airlines (Czech Republic). Since those early days, through the luxury travel of the 1950s to today’s mass air transport, airlines have evolved dramatically.
Traditional airlines, once state-owned and known as flag carriers, held major strategic roles. Market liberalization began in 1978 with the U.S. Deregulation Act, which removed government control over fares, routes, and market entry. This paved the way for private airlines in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in the U.S. Over the last 10–15 years, low-cost carriers have emerged, making air travel more affordable and widespread. The table above outlines key cost differences between low-cost and traditional airlines. Intense competition has led many legacy carriers, like Iberia, to create their own low-cost branches such as Iberia Express.
The Foundation of Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering can be divided into two primary disciplines: aeronautics and astronautics.
- Aeronautics: Aeronautical engineering is primarily concerned with the conceptualization and creation of aircraft,including helicopters and airplanes as well as drones.Aeronautical engineers commit their attention to flight performance,safety and fuel efficiency.
- Astronautics: Unlike that of aviation engineering,astronautical engineering deals with spacecrafts,rockets and other vehicles that venture beyond the earth's atmosphere.The professionals,astronautical engineers design system that facilitate space exploration and satellite technologies.
Achievements in Aerospace Engineering
- Moon Landings: Aerospace engineers played a crucial role in the Apollo program, enabling humanity to set foot on the Moon. One of the most remarkable achievements attributed to aeronautical engineers is the Lunar Module itself—an enduring symbol of human aspiration and a testament to our collective success in space exploration.
- Space Stations: Astronautics engineering encompasses both spaceflight and operations in particular environment like the space stations or the International Space Station (ISS). They function as important stages in the space science research.
- Mars Rovers: The engineering expertise employed in designing robotic spacecraft, such as the Mars rovers, is that of astronautical engineering Such vehicles have increased our knowledge of the Red Planet.
- Commercial Space Travel: Progress in the development of commercial space travels such as SpaceX and Blue Origin has created new avenues for the private sector participation in aerospace engineering.
- Supersonic Flight:The research in aeronautics is continuing with the objective of making supersonic travel cost-effective and easily available in the future other supersonic aircraft with enhanced technology could be manufactured.
Conclusion
Aerospace engineering is a captivating field that combines science, engineering, and imagination to make air and space travel possible. This beginner’s guide introduced key concepts like aerodynamics, powerplants, and materials. As you explore further, remember the profound impact aerospace engineers have had on modern travel and the exploration of the unknown.