Introduction

The aerospace industry in Ireland comprises three main sectors: maintenance,

repair and overhaul; component manufacturing; and international aviation services.
Employing approximately 5,500 people in over 160 companies, the aerospace
industry is mainly concentrated around two hubs: Dublin and Shannon. The
Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of
Limerick serves as a key infrastructural element in Ireland's Mid-West region,
supporting existing industries and assisting the national and regional agencies in
Department of attracting new investment in aerospace manufacturing and research. The University

Mechanical & Aeronautical

of Limerick is the only University within the Irish Republic to offer a B.E. in
Aeronautical Engineering, providing graduates and performing research for the

Engineering
Irish and European aerospace industries since 1992.

Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in

Entrance Requirements

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the Established Leaving

Aeronautical
Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least grade C3 in two Higher level
subjects and grade D3 in four Ordinary or Higher level subjects (including
Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English).

Engineering In addition, applicants are required to hold at least the following in the Leaving

LMO77
Certificate (or an approved equivalent): grade C3 in Higher level Mathematics and
a grade D3 in a Higher, Common or Ordinary Level paper in any of the following:
Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technical Drawing,
Biology, Agricultural Science.

Career Opportunities
B.E. Aeronautical Engineering graduates are currently pursuing careers
within the following areas:

• Aircraft aerodynamic design and analysis

• Aircraft structural design and analysis
• Flight test instrumentation
• Airframe maintenance
• Design of airframe structural repair procedures
• Engine maintenance and repair
• Aircraft systems engineering
• Aircraft composite structures design and research
• Computer Aided Engineering software development
• Aircraft electrical systems installation
• Pneumatics and cabin systems
• Flight physics
• Aircraft financial services and operations management
• Industrial fluid flow simulation using computational fluid
dynamics
• Gas turbine engine design and manufacture
• Automobile aerodynamic and structural design and analysis

Employers of our graduates to date include:

Within Ireland: Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon, SR Technics, Shannon
Aerospace, Aer Lingus, Irish Air Corps, Aer Arann, Aerotech Aviation Services,
Engine Lease Finance Corporation, GECAS, Ryanair

Outside Ireland: Airbus (more than 30 graduates to date), Boeing, BAE Systems,
Rolls Royce, General Electric Aircraft Engines, Westland Helicopters, British Airways
Engineering, Qatar Airways, ASCO industries, European Patent Office, Altair
Engineering.
COMPUTATIONAL GRID
Programme of Study
The programme is four years duration consisting of eight semesters and is divided into two parts.
Part I, which comprises the first year of study, provides the student with a foundation in the
fundamental engineering subjects:

• Mathematics and Computing • Chemistry and Materials Science

• Electrical Science and Electronics • Production Technology
• Engineering Mechanics • Introduction to the Engineering Profession
• Fluid Mechanics
The Year 1 programme is common for Mechanical, Aeronautical, Biomedical and Computer
Aided Engineering and Design. Students are free to migrate between courses at the end of
first year.
FAN FLOW

Part II comprises years 2, 3 and 4 and the degree award is based on the student performance
aggregated during these three years. The student will focus on the fundamental subjects of
Aeronautical Engineering as well as the business aspects of the profession:
• Aerodynamics • Aircraft Propulsion Systems
• Aircraft Design • Stability and Control of Aircraft
• Aircraft Maintenance • The Air Transportation Industry
• Aircraft Structures • Finite Element Analysis
• Astrodynamics • Aircraft Vibrations
• Avionics • Aircraft Materials
• Computational Fluid Dynamics • Boundary Layer Theory
• Flight Mechanics • Industrial Organisation
AIRCRAFT WING CRASHWORTHINESS

The laboratory element of the Flight Mechanics module is conducted in-flight. A series of flight
experiments are conducted in the BAe Jetstream 100 aircraft during which students monitor
the aircraft’s performance.

Cooperative Education
At the end of the second year, the student spends eight months in industry under the
framework of the cooperative education programme. Students with an appropriate level of
language competence may be placed in either Germany or France. The University has
established significant national and international links throughout the aerospace industry. This
TRANSONIC AIRFOIL FLOW

has enabled students to be placed in prestigious companies such as Boeing and Airbus.

The industrial experience gained by the student during the cooperative education
period can be advantageous when seeking employment at the end of the degree
programme.

Research
In addition to the B.E. course, the department offers M.Eng. and Ph.D. awards by research in
Aeronautical disciplines. As indicated by the many illustrations within this brochure, aerospace
research within the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering is, at present,
being undertaken in the following areas:
GAS TURBINE AERODYNAMICS

• Composite materials for aircraft structures • Aircraft structural joints

• Carbon nanotubes and nanocomposites • Heat transfer in electronic equipment
• Crashworthiness of aircraft and automobiles • Solid particle erosion in pipe fittings
• Thermal optimisation in wing structures and • Aircraft engine design and development
fuel tank systems • Unsteady aerodynamics
• Non-destructive testing of aircraft structures
• Computational fluid dynamics and finite
element analysis

For further information: www.ul.ie/~engineer MAE Department Tel: (061) 202 544

All enquiries in relation to admissions should be addressed to:

Admissions Office, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

Tel: +353-61-202015 Fax: +353-61-334859
Email: admissions@ul.ie Web: www.ul.ie/admissions