Basics 6 min read
The Evolution of Airplanes
Adrian Bejan is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Duke University and as an offshoot from his thermodynamics research…
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Basics 5 min read
The Birth of the Jet: The Engine that Shrunk the World
In today’s time it is easy to take for granted the complex inventions that alleviate our everyday life. The modern…
Basics 8 min read
Jet Engine Design and Optimisation
For aircraft jet propulsion there are in general four distinct designs: the turbojet, turbofan (or bypass engine), turboprop and turboshaft.…
Basics 7 min read
Variable Stiffness Composites
In previous posts I have discussed the unique characteristics and manufacturing processes of a certain type of composite material, namely continuous fibre-reinforced plastics (FRPs).…
Basics 10 min read
Carbon Nanotube Hierarchical Composites for Interlaminar Strengthening
The exploitation of conventional, continuous fibre-reinforced plastics in engineering structures has been steadily diversifying from sports equipment and high performance…
Basics 17 min read
Boundary Layer Separation and Pressure Drag
At the start of the 19th century, after studying the highly cambered thin wings of many different birds, Sir George…
Basics 11 min read
How Quickly Do Bubbles Rise in a Pint of Beer?
The material we covered in the last two posts (skin friction and pressure drag) allows us to consider a fun little problem:…
Basics 6 min read
The Atmosphere
Understanding the details of the atmosphere is critical for manned flight since it provides the medium through which the aircraft…
Basics 4 min read
Operational Requirements
Every aircraft has a certain operational environment, including aspects of flight and ground operations, that it is designed to serve in throughout…
Basics 7 min read
Loads Acting on Aircraft
The flight envelope of an aeroplane can be divided into two regimes. The first is rectilinear flight in a straight…