Discussion in DFM held on Feb. 20, 2008

• Department minor: Include Aircraft Design with appropriate prerequisite requirements under optional courses
• Aerospace Structural Mechanics to be made 8 credits. Aircraft Design to remain 6 credits.
• DD specialization titles and electives to be finalized: Structures -- PMM, Thermal and Fluids -- JCM + AMP
• Syllabi of all courses/labs seen. Minor inputs requested from RPS, JCM, PMM, KS
  

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Meeting of curriculum committee to discuss scheduling of the dynamics course.                                                                                 Jan. 22, 08

1. Put the dynamics course in semester VI.
1. PROS:
   
1. The course runs in parallel with flight and spaceflight mechanics. Easier for students to remember. Not a problem if the dynamics course isrestricted to first half of the semester, because the other two courses need the dynamics input only in the second half.
   
2. Causes minimum changes to current schedule.
2. CONS: The course has to be completed in half a semester at 4 lectures per week. One course slot reduced in Sem VI for honors/minors students.
2. Put Dynamics in semester V, move HS 102 to semester VII.
   
1. PROS: 
1. The dynamics course can be spread out over the whole semester at 2 lectures per week.
   
2. In semester VI, the flight and spaceflight mechanics courses can be taught in any manner since the prerequisite is comepletely covered in semester V.
2. CONS: HS 102 comes rather late. Students may have to brush up dynamics again in semester VI for the two mechanics courses.
3. Introduce Dynamics course in semester IV, with no other changes.
1. PROS: Leaves slots free in later semesters for overloading honors courses etc. 
2. CONS: Semester IV is slightly heavily loaded. Large gap between dynamics and courses that need it.
   

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Green -- outcome of discussion in DFM held on July 17, 2007
Shortage of 17 credits in departmental basket of core courses and labs.  (Accepted)                                                                             July 9, 2007

1. Recommendation: Increase 18 credits by
   
1. Increasing credits of one fluids course, one structures course and one  thermal course to 8 credits
• Felt necessary as each of these streans has reduced by one course compared to the present
  
2. Introducing Optimization as a core course with suitably modified content
• Consistent with spirit of Biswas committee recommendations
• Optimization has become part of general engineering
3. Introducing a 6 credit Software Lab involving lectures and exercises in
   
• Numerical analysis practice/implementation
• Use of suitable packages to solve moderate complexity near-real life problems involving flows, structures, optimization and design, simulation, trajectory design
2. Other options: Replace one or more of the above recommended by one or more of the following
1. Core course on CFD
2. Core course on CSM
3. Include Engineering Mechanics (subject to availability)
4. Split proposed Fluid Mechanics into two courses on incompressible and compressible flows as before
5. Core course on Navigation and Guidance
6. Have one elective slot in which students have to pick one other department course from a list specified by Aero dept. Could include courses on metallurgy/mtl. science, mechanisms and machine design, production, electronics, engineering mechanics

Flight mechanics lab: To retain or drop? (Remove from core. Retain as elective, with performance prerequisite, cost sharing)

PT: Recommended to be dropped (To be dropped)

Works Visit: Retain, but introduce flexibility (To be dropped)

•           Options:
• Have one work visit each in the first 3 years, preferably as part of a course
• Works visits to be completed any time in the 4 years, and not necessarily in any given sem

Software Lab (To be explored. Concerns about costs, infrastructure, administration)

Requirements for Honors

• Require one/two units of directed study or BTP as part of ? (Not discussed)
  
• Include a CPI requirement? Preferable at the end, not the beginning. (Accepted in principle)
  

Exit option for DD: Should be possible after completing extra 30 credits and/or after completing 5 years (Not discussed)

BTP/directed study from outside: May be acceptable as part of extra 30 credits that DD students have to take, but not for basic BTech or against honors requirements (Accepted)

System checks:? Who will check that all requirements are satisfied at the time of passing out? (Not discussed)

Student flexibility in choosing when to take courses (subject to availability, prerequisites, timetable)? (Discussed briefly. Seems too big a step.)

DD project registration to begin in semester VIII as now? (Not discussed)
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1. Science courses                                                                                                                                                                                   June 6, 2007
   
• 1 Physics + 1 Chemistry OR Two Physics?? (1P + 1C)
  
• If one Physics, then Modern Physics OR Electricity and Magnetism (E & M)
  
• Physics first or Chemistry first? (P first)
  
2. Maths courses: Following two courses are not included presently
1. MA 205 Complex Analysis 3 1 0 4
   
2. MA 207 Differential Equations II 3 1 0 4
• Options:
• Include one under departmental list (which one?) (MA 207 under dept. list)
  
• Include both under departmental list
• Replace Numerical Analysis by these two as DO
3. Mechanics course: No mechanics course at present. No mechanics input beyond JEE
• Options:
• Include Engineering Mechanics from Civil under departmental list
• Teach a seperate mechanics course ourselves
• Include relevant mechanics topics in courses such as Spaceflight Mechanics, Flight Mechanics (chosen this)
  
4. DIC (not discussed)
   
5. Software Lab (not discussed)
   
6. Flight Mechanics Lab (not discussed)
   
7. Design Courses and labs (not discussed)