Division of Aerospace Engineering

URL : http://ae.kaist.ac.kr

Summary

Aerospace Engineering focuses on the study of solutions for engineering problems of flight vehicles flying in the atmosphere and aerospace. Flight vehicles include airliners, fighting planes, helicopters, missiles, rockets and satellites. Each has different shape and flies in different areas and environments. The Division of Aerospace Engineering offers compatible engineering fields for various flight vehicles. Major areas of specialization include structures and structural dynamics, aero and fluid dynamics, propulsion and convulsion, and flight dynamics and control. Obtaining profound knowledge of these subjects is indispensable in the design and construction of flight vehicles and solving engineering problems. The undergraduate program offers various courses that provide a basis of four areas of specialization. Each graduate student conducts thesis research on a selected research subject.

Educational environments

For undergraduate undeclared major students, the major field should be chosen after completing required liberal arts subjects and general subjects. Students who select the Division of Aerospace Engineering for their major will attain an elemental knowledge of aero/fluid dynamics, structure/materials, aerodynamics and control, propulsion/energy conversion, and flight vehicle systems. In the graduate school, students are offered more detailed majors and obtain experience necessary to be an outstanding aerospace specialist through thesis research.

Field and research

Aero and Fluid Dynamics

Aero and Fluid Dynamics is a wide study of elemental flow and applied flow phenomena related to movement of Aero and fluid dynamics. It is a study of general heat flow and noise phenomena through theory, experiments, and numerical analyses using computers. Related fields are phenomena related to the flow of vehicles, compressor and turbine flow of engines, turbo pumps and regenerator cooling of rocket engines, and helicopter rotors. Students also conduct experiments on subsonic and supersonic flow by scientific method and sensors.

Structures and Structural

Dynamics Students of Structures and Structural Dynamics focus on learning structural strength analysis, structural vibrations, and aeroelasticity of various flight vehicle structures. The students conduct various analysis projects through theory, experiments, and numerical analyses using computers and are trained to apply these procedures to vehicle designs. Research projects include vehicle composite analysis, juggling and vibrations analysis of plates and shells, characteristics and behavior analysis of compound materials composites, and aeroelasticity analysis. We also.promote research on intelligent structures with light fiber.

Propulsion and Convulsion

Students of Propulsion and Convulsion focus on study of performance analysis of engines and propulsion systems of various flight vehicles and the characteristics of convulsions in propulsion systems. Students conduct various research projects such as engine thrust analyses, solid and fluid rocket thrusters’ convulsion phenomena analyses, generation and circulation of flames, vaporizer convulsion, and convulsion analysis of prone heat transfer influence and explosions.

Flight Dynamics and Control

Students of Flight Dynamics and Control focus on learning dynamic characteristics & methods and inducement & control methods, starting from performance and safety of flight vehicles. The students conduct various research projects such as performance analyses of airliners and helicopters, blasts, system designs of missile inducement and control, optimization of flying trace, system variable estimations, and adaptation controls, and computerized control system designs.