MAE Graduate Courses, Spring Term 2009
MAE 502/APC 506Mathematical Methods IIA complementary presentation of theory, analytical methods, and numerical methods. The objective is to impart a set of capabilities commonly used in the research areas represented in the Department and more broadly in engineering and the physical and biological sciences. Standard computational packages will be made available in the courses, and assignments will be designed to use them. Topics will include Complex variables, PDE, Fourier and Laplace Transforms, and a brief introduction to numerical methods.
MSE 502/MAE 566Thermodynamics and Kinetic in MaterialsThermodynamics and kinetics applicable to phase changes and processing in materials. Physical and mathematical descriptions of phase equilibrium, nucleation and growth, phase separation, coarsening, and diffusion in solids.
MSE 504/MAE 563Modeling & Simulation in Material SciencThis course examines methods for simulating matter at the molecular and electronic scale. Molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo and electronic structure methods will be covered with emphasis on hands-on experience in writing and/or exercising simulation codes for atomistic and electronic structure simulation.
MAE 511Experimental Methods IA laboratory course that focuses on basic electronics techniques, digital electronics, and data acquisition and analysis. Topics include introduction to digital and analog electronics, digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion, microcomputer sampling, and data analysis. There are four laboratory hours and two lecture hours per week. There is one project.
MAE 514Master of Engineering Project IIContinuation of MAE 513. Directed study for Master of Engineering students. The topic is proposed by the student and must be approved by the student's research advisor and have received approval from the MAE Graduate Committee.
MAE 528/AST 566Physics of Plasma PropulsionFocus of this course is on fundamental processes in plasma thrusters for spacecraft propulsion with emphasis on recent research findings. Start with a review of the fundamentals of mass, momentum & energy transport in collisional plasmas, wall effects, & collective (wave) effects, & derive a generalized Ohm's law useful for discussing various plasma thruster concepts. Move to detailed discussions of the acceleration & dissipation mechanisms in Hall thrusters, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters, pulsed plasma thrusters, & inductive plasma thrusters, & derive expressions for the propulsive efficiencies of each of these concepts.
MAE 530Advanced Topics in Applied Physics IIThis course will present the challenges of molecular detection & various spectroscopy based approaches that have been & are being developed to answer these challenges. The emphasis will be on the detection of species in the atmosphere & on surfaces exposed to the atmosphere for the detection of pollutants, greenhouse gases & trace species associated with explosives, hazardous chemicals & biological substances including gases of medical interest. Measurement approaches for both local sampling & stand off detection will be discussed. The course will include guest lectures from leaders in the development of the respective technologies.
MAE 531CombustionChemical thermodynamics and kinetics, oxidation of hydrogen, hydrocarbons and alternate fuels, pollutant chemistry and control, transport phenomena, laminar premixed and nonpremixed flames, turbulent flames, ignition, extinction, and flammability phenomena, flame stabilization and blowoff, detonation and blast waves, droplet, spray and coal particle combustion, principles of engine operation.
MAE 546Optimal Control and EstimationAn introduction to stochastic optimal control theory and application. It reviews mathematical foundations and explores parametric optimization, conditions for optimality, constraints and singular control, numerical optimization, and neighboring-optimal solutions. Least-squares estimates, propagation of state estimates and uncertainty, and optimal filters and predictors; optimal control in the presence of uncertainty; certainty equivalence and the linear-quadratic-Gaussian regulator problem; frequency-domain solutions for linear multivariable systems; and robustness of closed-loop control are all studied.
MAE 552/CHE 557Viscous Flows and Boundary LayersAn introduction to the mechanics of viscous flows. The kinematics and dynamics of viscous flows. Some solutions of the Navier Stokes equations. The behavior of vorticity. The boundary layer approximation. The laminar boundary layer with and without pressure gradient. Separation. Integral relations and approximate methods. Compressible laminar boundary layers. Introduction to instability and transition. Turbulent free shear flows. Turbulent boundary layers. Effects of Reynolds number. Bluff body flows.
MAE 598Grad. Seminar in Mech & Aerospace Eng.A seminar of graduate students and staff presenting the results of their research and recent advances in flight, space, and surface transportation; fluid mechanics; energy conversion; propulsion; combustion; environmental studies; applied physics; and materials sciences. There is one seminar per week and participation at presentations by distinguished outside speakers.