The Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering
 

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES
The department has an outstanding variety of experimental and computing facilities on campus. This page discusses all funded facilities, as well as some of the other academic resources found at the department.
 
 
Experimental Facilities Computing Facilities Other Resources

 

Experimental Facilities

 This is a list comprising all facilities and equipment found at the Pennsylvania State University. Categories are Wind and Water Tunnels, Advanced Structures and Materials, Space Propulsion, Aeroacoustics, Turbomachinery, and Other Facilities. These are roughly categorized according to research programs; more information about the many research programs may be found in the Research Page.

Wind and Water Tunnels


Supersonic tunnel, test section removed (49K)

Subsonic tunnel (3.25'x 5') -- aerial view (29K)

Subsonic tunnel -- turbine fan (8 blade, 6' dia) (14k)

Subsonic tunnel -- side view (209k)

Axissymetric wind tunnel (233K)

Axissymetric tunnel test section (3' dia) (290K)

Subsonic tunnel test section (3.25' x 5') (127k)

30"x18"x15' water tunnel with mounting (217k)

Advanced Structures and Materials

Most composite equipment is found at the Composites Manufacturing Technology Center (operated jointly with the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics).

Autoclave (3' dia) (200K)

Elastomeric characteristic test facility (61K)

Structures machinist shop (295K)

Filament winding machine (73k)

Space Propulsion

All experimental facilities for research in space propulsion are located in and are operated in conjunction with the NASA Center for Space Propulsion Engineering located at the University Park Campus.

0.5m Spectrometer (314K)

Microwave arcjet unit, in operation (155K)

2m Vaccuum facility (245K)

Unsteady solid propellant combustion facility (217k)

Aeroacoustics


Semi-anachoic chamber (238K)

Full anachoic chamber with jet noise facility (341K)

Turbomachinery


Single-stage compressor facility (283K)

Axial flow turbine (3' dia) (294K)

Multi-stage compressor facility (264K)

Automotive torque converter facility (209k)

Other Experimental Facilities Include:



 

Computing Facilities

Excellent computational facilities are available in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Applied Research Laboratory, Computer Science and Engineering, Engineering Computer Laboratory, and the University’s Information Technology Services (ITS) labs. Full internet support is available in these facilities, as well as in all campus dormitories. Students are also encouraged to obtain their own personal computers.

The Information Technology Services (ITS) regularly holds classes and/or information sessions on operating systems and popular systems and popular application software available on the various computer platforms. Information regarding the CAC and its services may be obtained from any of the campus student computer labs.

Hardware


140-node IBM SP2
(at CAC)

IBM ES-9000
(at CAC)

Mult-modem banks
(at CAC)

16-node SGI
(old CM-200 in background)

RS/6000 Workstations
(316 Hammond)


Aerospace Computer Lab
(51 Hammond)


Education classroom
(220 Hammond)

COCOA
(51 Hammond)

Software

In addition to the standard software used around campus, what follows is a summary of popular software used by aerospace engineering students, grouped by type of application. This is not an all-inclusive list, and also should not be taken as a tutorial on a particular application software's use. Detailed information on available software can be obtained from the CAC computer labs or the lab operators. Computer hardware and software can be purchased locally at the Microcomputer Order Center (Willard Building) or the Penn State Bookstore.

 PROGRAMMING

SPREADSHEETS AND DATABASES COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN MATH SOFTWARE SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS SOFTWARE

STK -- Satellite Took Kit  (Rms. 51 and 131 Hammond). Penn State participates in the Education Alliance Program, sponsored by Analytical Graphics, Inc., which provides licences for Satellite Tool Kit and many of its modules. Registered students can obtain individual copies of the software directly from AGI or by contacting Dr. Robert Melton.




 

Other Resources

 
 

Engineering Library

The Engineering Library on the third floor of Hammond Building houses thousands of volumes of engineering texts, periodicals, and literature. Most material can be checked out of the library upon presentation of the student's identification card. Several photocopy machines are available, as well as areas to study. 

Academic Advising

Each student is assigned an official advisor to help with scheduling, career planning, or other academic matters. The appropriate time to meet with an advisor is during the semester, as they are usually busy during registration. If the advisor is not available, one of the departmental staff assistants can locate him/her or contact another person who can help the student. More information can be reached through Dr. Robert Melton, Principal Advisor, 229 Hammond, 865-1185. He can also assist in complex scheduling problems. 

Coursework Consultation

Professors, graduate teaching assistants, and undergraduate teaching interns hold scheduled office hours for student help. Special appointments can also be arranged if the student cannot meet the scheduled office hours. One of the department secretaries may be able to help arrange such appointments.

Individual tutoring for 300-level aerospace engineering courses is provided by Sigma Gamma Tau members during scheduled hours. Group help sessions can be arranged if warranted by substantial interest on a particular subject. Scheduled tutoring hours are announced throughout the semester. 


The Engineering Library is located directly one floor above the aerospace office, providing easy access to most reference materials


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