Introduction to Engineering: A Project-Based Experience in Engineering Methods

Introduction to Engineering is a project-based learning experience for engineering students, who are tasked with designing a hypersonic trans-atmospheric vehicle. It leads students through the same process that a team of engineers would follow by breaking a large design problem into smaller, more tractable sub-problems.

To purchase this material in a set with electronic classroom materials please see 978-1624104848

The first phase of this vehicle's mission profile is a vertical launch like a rocket. Students begin by studying Newton's laws and the principles of rocket propulsion and aerodynamics. Armed with this knowledge, they will design, build, and launch a test vehicle.

After flying to the edge of space, the hypersonic trans-atmospheric vehicle will slow down and glide back to a horizontal landing on the earth. Students study this second phase of the mission, learning about glider aerodynamics and performance, as well the shaping required for hypersonic vehicles.

By the end of this course students will learn one fundamental lesson inherent in most problem-solving. Life is full of challenges for which we are not prepared. An engineer, or any creative problem solver, first determines what knowledge and skills are necessary to solve a problem. Then they identify those facts and skills they need to know but they don t yet know, and they set out to learn them. This course is built around that approach. In the process, students will discover the fascinating, challenging, and motivating world of engineering.

Table of Contents
Foreword - How to Use This Book
Introduction to Engineering
The Engineering Method
Engineering and Teamwork
Engineering Fundamentals
Ballistic Motion
Rocket Propulsion
Rocket Aerodynamics and Stability
Rocket Design, Build, and Launch
Green Engineering, Sustainability, and Engineering Ethics
Aerodynamics and Glide Performance
Aircraft Stability and Control
Supersonic and Hypersonic Design Considerations
Glider Build and Launch
Boost Glider Structures
Boost Glider Mechanisms
Boost Glider Build and Launch
Digital Logic
Closing Thoughts