Institute of Fluid Dynamics
Department of Mechanical and Process
Engineering
ETH Zurich
Sonneggstrasse 3
8092 Zürich, Switzerland
Phone +41 44 632 2647
Fax +41 44 632 1147
www.ifd.mavt.ethz.ch
MSc Profile "Aerospace Engineering"
Background
The ability to fly in air and space has been an age-old dream of mankind. The
scientific and technological realization of this dream is a hallmark of engineering
achievement and continues to be the driver for much of modern-day industrial
research and development. These activities require extraordinary technical skills,
efforts and advances, and have made aerospace engineering one of the leading
technical disciplines.
Following this spirit, the Profile "Aerospace Engineering" defines a coherent course
package in one of the core fields of modern engineering.
The primary addressees are students looking for a tailored Master's level education
in aircraft and space engineering, and related areas. Since many elements of high
technology design can increasingly be found also in classical consumer products,
many topics covered within the aerospace context are relevant for other industries as
well, for example automotive design and manufacturing.
Study program
A specific feature of aerospace engineering is its interdisciplinarity. In order to design
and build such complex engineering systems such as airplanes, rockets, spacecraft
or satellites, deep knowledge in several classical domains of engineering is required.
At the same time, an education in these areas qualifies an engineer also for work in
other predominately research- and development-dominated environments.
The course menu of the profile provides a broad technical background by merging
the offerings of different professorships and competence areas into a single coherent
curriculum.
The basic building blocks are strongly recommended courses in the areas of
• structural mechanics, especially light-weight and composite technologies,
• fluid dynamics, including aerodynamics and propulsion,
• control theory, with emphasis on digital systems, and
• systems engineering as the bridging discipline in complex technical project
management.
As a distinctive feature, a class on orbital dynamics is included in order to extend the
mathematical background in this specific direction. The list of core classes is
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MSc Profile "Aerospace Engineering"
augmented by a large number of elective classes that may also include subjects
reaching beyond classical mechanical engineering, such as space physics, optics,
electronics, avionics or space communications.
Modern engineering practice is organized around team work, reflecting the need to
incorporate a wide range of competencies at all levels of the technical development
process. This situation is recognized in the aerospace curriculum by offering case
studies and project-oriented learning modules in addition to the classical "classroom
style" education.
Many of the participating professorships are actively involved in aerospace projects
and can offer thesis topics with a close link to ongoing industrial activities.
Modern aerospace engineering is not only inherently interdisciplinary, but also
international. This means that potential employers can be found not only in
Switzerland, but also abroad in an international context. In recognition of this fact,
most classes in the "aerospace" Profile are offered in English.
The need for aerospace engineers extends beyond the group of large "prime
contractor" companies. In the modern engineering workplace, many smaller
companies ("sub-contractors") are often involved in large, international projects as
well and require engineers with an adequate qualification. This increases the number
of potential employers, especially also in Switzerland.
The recommended study program of this profile is summarized in the following
tables.
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MSc Profile "Aerospace Engineering"
Strongly recommended core courses (6 x 4 = 24 ECTS)
Course ID
151-0563-01
151-1116-00
Course Title
Dynamic Programming and Optimal Control
Einführung in Flug- und
Fahrzeugaerodynamik
Lecturer
D’Andrea
Wildi
151-0204-00
151-0280-00
Aerospace Propulsion
Advanced Techniques for the Risk Analysis
of Technical Systems
Aircraft Structures
Orbital Dynamics
151-0366-00
401-0702-00
HS/FS
HS
HS
ECTS
4
4
Schedule
Wed 13-16
Thu 15-18
Abhari, Chokani
Sansavini
FS
FS
4
4
Thu 10-13
Wed 13-16
Ermanni
Stoffer
FS
FS
4
4
Mon 10-13
Tue 10-13, Wed 14-15
Recommended core courses (select at least 12 ECTS) or multidisciplinary
courses (select at least 6 ECTS)
Course ID
103-0187-01
151-0109-00
151-0203-00
151-0207-00
Course Title
Space Geodesy
Turbulent Flows
Turbomachinery Design
Theory and Modelling of Reactive Flows
151-0215-00
Introduction to Acoustics, Aeroacoustics and
Thermoacoustics
Aeroelasticity
Acoustics I
Statistical Physics
151-0368-00
227-0477-00
402-0861-00
151-0110-00
151-0211-00
151-0236-00
151-0107-20
151-0212-00
151-1115-00
227-0376-00
Compressible Flows
Convective Heat Transport
Single- and Two-Phase Particulate Flows
High Performance Computing for Science
and Engineering
Advanced CFD Methods
Ausgewählte Kapitel der Flugtechnik
Reliability of Electronic Equipment and
Systems
Lecturer
Rothacher
Jenny
Abhari et al
Frouzakis,
Mantzaras
Noiray
HS/FS
HS
HS
HS
HS
ECTS
4
4
4
4
Schedule
Wed 8-10 & 13-14
Thu 8-10 & 13-14
Thu 10-13
Mon 10-12 & 14-15
HS
4
Campanile
Heutschi
Sigrist
HS
HS
HS
4
6
4
Thu 10-13
Mon 13-17
Tue 14-15, Fri 14-16
Kunsch
Park
Müller
Koumoutsakos,
Troyer
Jenny, Lakehal
Wildi
Sennhauser, Held
FS
FS
FS
FS
4
4
4
4
Wed 13-14, Thu 8-10
Mon 10-13
Thu 15-16, Fri 10-12
Fri 8-12
FS
FS
FS
4
4
4
Mon 11-12 & 15-17
Wed 15-18
Mon 10-13
HS/FS
HS
HS
ECTS
4
4
Schedule
Wed 8-10 & 13-14
Wed 10-13
Further courses suggested by MSc tutors of IFD
Course ID
151-0113-00
151-0213-00
151-0851-00
151-0114-00
151-1906-00
151-0252-00
227-0124-00
327-5103-00
401-0674-00
401-3652-00
Course Title
Applied Fluid Dynamics
Fluid Dynamics with the Lattice Boltzmann
Method
Robot Dynamics
Lecturer
Kunsch
Karlin
Siegwart et al.
HS
4
Tue 10-12 & 13-16
Turbulence Modeling
Multiphase Flow
Gasturbines: Cycles and Combustion
Systems
Embedded Systems
Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics
Numerical Methods for Partial Differential
Equations
Numerical Methods for Hyperbolic Partial
Differential Equations
Meyer-Massetti
von Rohr, Prasser
Jansohn
FS
FS
FS
4
4
4
Tue 14-17
Wed 8-10, Thu 8-10
Mon 14-17
Thiele
Öttinger
Hiptmair
FS
FS
FS
6
4
8
Wed 13-19
Mon 10-12
Mon 15-17, Tue 15-17
Mishra
FS
10
Mon 13-16, Tue 15-17
Please note that the lists of courses will be adapted to the needs and
preferences of the individual student to create his/her Master Tutor agreement.
Version: October 2015
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