Aerospace engineering, as popularly quoted, is mechanical engineering done better. Here, engineering design and analysis are more precise using advanced materials. Manufacturing is always through the most advanced technologies that invariably focus on closer tolerances. With the explosive growth in civil aviation, satellite communications and space exploration, the demand for aerospace engineers is simply incalculable.
The goal of the B. Tech. program in Aerospace Engineering is to train the students in a broad based manner with equal focus on applications in aircraft engineering, rocket and space technology. The curriculum is designed to impart engineering knowledge in topics such as structural mechanics, aerodynamics, propulsion, and space dynamics. Further provision exists to acquire additional engineering knowledge through electives. Besides, the students acquire sufficient knowledge in mathematics, physics and chemistry under the category of basic sciences and in humanities and engineering arts. The importance of computational-skill enhancement through the development of one's own programs as well as the use of advanced software is stressed throughout.
M.Tech. and M.S. programs in Aerospace Engineering will soon be introduced at the university. The Ph.D. program with specialization in structural mechanics, aerodynamics and propulsion are good doctoral options here. M.Tech. graduates in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering with a flair for research are admitted.
Research efforts are in progress in the areas of boundary layer theory, flow past high-rise and low-rise buildings and industrial structures. Fuel injection and atomization processes, and computational fluid dynamics in fluidized bed combustion, ramjets, and Fuel cells are some of the research topics currently under progress.
A professional development course on Fuel Cell Technology was held in May-June 2007. This course was conducted by the faculty drawn from Queen's University, Canada and other national experts. Engineers from R&D departments of the industries and faculty from engineering colleges were the course participants. Besides that, research proposals in the areas of CFD modeling of ramjets and fuel cells have been sent to sponsoring agencies.
Graduates in Aerospace Engineering can seek employment in civil aviation, defense R&D laboratories, space research organizations, and CSIR laboratories. Aerospace graduates are also preferred by software industries engaged in engineering-software developments. In addition to these, graduates can enter general fields like management and civil services. Those having a flair for higher education and research can pursue M. Tech. and Ph.D.