Aerospace Engineering Department

Established in 1966-67 as the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, the department was renamed the Department of Aerospace Engineering in 1992. The department runs strong undergraduate and graduate programs in aerospace engineering, and carries out research in several areas of aeronautical and aerospace sciences. The department has 21 full-time faculty members and around 200 students- over 120 undergraduate students and nearly 80 graduate students. In addition, there are around 40 permanent and 20 temporary staff members who run the administrative offices, laboratories, workshop, drawing office, and are involved with sponsored research work undertaken by the faculty. The department runs academic programs for the degrees of Bachelor of Technology (B Tech), Master of Technology (M Tech), Dual Degree (B Tech and M Tech) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph D). Five broad areas of specialization are offered: Aerodynamics, Control and Guidance, Propulsion, Structures, and Systems Engineering.

The faculty are actively involved in research in the areas of Experimental Aerodynamics; Flight Dynamics and Control; Nonlinear Systems and Stability; Composite Materials; Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity; Gas Turbine Engines and Rotor Dynamics; Axial Compressor Design and Analysis; Combustion and Heat Transfer; RCS and Infrared Signatures; MDO; Aircraft (UAV and Airship) Design.

The department maintains close links with the aerospace and defense industry and undertakes sponsored research, consultancy, and continuing education programs in diverse areas. The faculty has contributed towards national programs like the LCA, IGMDP, GSLV, in various capacities, with spin-off benefits to other fields such as bio-medical engineering. The department has a wide range of experimental facilities such as subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels, water tunnel, stability tunnel, LDV and hot wires, analog and hydraulic simulation rigs, rotor dynamics and engine test rigs, Instron for structural testing, Autoclave for composites fabrication, instrumented drop weight impact test apparatus, and an aeromodeling lab, besides extensive computational facilities with excellent network connect connectivity. The department aims to provide students with a cordial atmosphere and an opportunity to acquire a multi-disciplinary perspective to engineering problems. The department can boast of alumni like the program director of the LCA program, Dr Kota Harinarayana, who have achieved unparalleled success in their professions.

Source: IIT Bombay : IITB official website.