KL4005 - Practicum 1 in Mechanical Aerospace Engineering

Learning in this module is based on a set of small team projects introducing you to core engineering skills and competencies, such as teamwork, developing project schedule and a rigorous approach to engineering design. Emphasis will be put on a comprehensive assessment of small aerospace-related problems, design of solutions and analysis of various factors affecting that design, together with account of associated societal, ethical and environmental concerns and mitigation of the latter. The practical teamwork will be supported by a limited number of seminars, laboratory and workshop trials, as well as directed and independent learning efforts. To support your design, you will be guided to appropriate engineering software, which will be used to enhance your understanding of the project details and underlying engineering science. You will be expected and encouraged to read ahead by reviewing the support material provided via the eLP to support your own learning outside of timetabled hours. Some of the timetabled classes may involve tutor-lead “questions-and-answers” sessions while other will require student group presentations providing further student-to-student explanations and responses.

During scheduled contact sessions, academic support will be available to assist your problem-solving activity. Formative feedback will be provided by the module team, including answering student queries and providing guidance in relation to the module such as the assessments and your academic progress. Workshops, supported by lab tutors, effectively provide verbal feedback and comments throughout the session. Such comments may be generic and applicable to all students, typically noting procedures or some technical guideline or could be more directed to the individuals learning. The electronic learning platform (eLP) provides a comprehensive resource for integrated learning incorporating learning materials and reading lists that will facilitate directed and self-directed learning. Contact with academic tutors and your peers outside formal teaching hours is encouraged through ‘Office Hours’ policy, discussion boards and messaging systems within the eLP. Professional support staff, such as Ask4Help, provide a first point of contact for a range of queries, including, for example, those concerning assessment submission, late submission / extensions, and other administrative issues.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

MLO1 Design and test solutions for well-defined problems in mechanical aerospace engineering with consideration of diverse, often conflicting, requirements



Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

MLO2 Select and apply appropriate materials, and technologies and processes of their treatment for well-defined problems, and appreciate their limitations



Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

MLO3 Adopt an inclusive approach to engineering practice and recognise the responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion

MLO4 Plan and assess own work as an individual engineer or as a member or leader of a team

MLO5 Identify gaps in own knowledge, plan and record self-learning and development requirements as the foundation for lifelong learning

Formative Assessment

The interrelated series of activities provide many opportunities for both tutor and peer formative feedback and there will be specific formal opportunities for formative feedback which are: completion of an individual self-assessment of general, technical and transferrable skills, engagement in peer assessment, subsequent engagement with peer assessment and progress evaluations such as presentations. Completion of, and reflection on, the formative tasks is required to enable a full submission of the summative tasks to be made.



Summative Assessment

The summative assessment tasks will draw upon substantial contributions from the formative tasks.



Component 1 is a portfolio presenting self-assessment of relevant skills and perceived gaps, description of the team structure and the individual’s role in the team. (MLO3, MLO4, MLO5). This component is equivalent to 2,000 words and its weight is 50% of the total mark. It is an electronic submission: the feedback to the students will be returned through the eLP.



Component 2, assessing MLO1 and MLO2 is the team design demonstration, technical report and presentation. This component is equivalent to 3,000 words and its weight is 50% of the total mark. The feedback on the demonstration and presentation will be given in -session; the team technical report is an electronic submission done and assessed using the eLP (BlackBoard).

N/A

N/A

This module introduces you to fundamental notions and techniques essential to Mechanical Aerospace engineering. Through a set of small projects, you will learn the basics of aerodynamics, powered flight, aircraft control systems, flight dynamics, and the basics of turbomachinery. The module also introduces the skills of engineering: design, analysis, and the rigorous approach to manufacturing and testing procedures that are the hallmark of aerospace industry. In the workshop sessions, the students will work in small teams to build lightweight structures that can withstand the forces required to fly and test them and create simple control and propulsion systems. Work on small projects will reinforce the knowledge and understanding acquired in other modules and demonstrate how the fundamental engineering science may be applied to design of aerospace vehicles or systems, or their components. Work in small groups will bring you acquisition and practice of teamwork and communication skills. In addition to extensive formative feedback, the summative assessment consists of an individual portfolio presenting self-assessment of learning requirements and a team presentation of the project outcomes together with the justification of the design choices.