Aerospace Composites (AERO4300)
Information valid for Semester 2, 2025
Course level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Engineering, Architecture & Information Technology
School
Mech & Mine Engineering School
Units
2
Duration
One Semester
Attendance mode
In Person
Class hours
Studio 3 Hours/ Week
Practical 2 Hours/ Ad Hoc
Problem Based Learning 2 Hours/ Ad Hoc
Prerequisite
MECH2300
Assessment methods
Assignments, Project Report/Presentation, End of Semester Examination
Course enquiries
Dr Michael Heitzmann (m.heitzmann@uq.edu.au)
Study Abroad
This course is pre-approved for Study Abroad and Exchange students.
Current course offerings
Course offerings | Location | Mode | Course Profile |
Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025) | St Lucia | In Person | Profile unavailable |
Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.
Course description
The course provides an introduction to composite materials, manufacturing and design with a primary focus on applications in the aerospace industry. Students will gain insight into the commonly used constituent materials, intermediates, and resulting composites and understand the many choices available in this hierarchy. The course will then introduce the students to the most common composite manufacturing processes for both thermoplastic and thermosetting matrix composites. Emphasis is put on enabling students to select the most appropriate manufacturing process for a given application and material combination. The design component of the course covers the key concepts of structural design and evaluation of composite materials. This includes introducing students to micromechanics, classical-laminate theory, and failure theory of composite materials using both analytical as well as numerical methods. In the final two weeks of the semester, the course ventures into advanced topics, including sandwich structures, degradation and durability, and ceramic matrix composite materials and manufacturing. The learning experience is enhanced with two hands-on manufacturing practicals and a non-destructive testing workshop.