What Are Innovative Research Topics in Aerospace Engineering for Undergraduates?

[aeroindi]

hi,
i am a final year student of aerospace engineering. i am looking for topic suggestions for undergraduate research paper. i am interested in works of propulsion, but i am not able to pick any topic for research purpose in this field. any suggestion would be appreciated. thank you
PS: topic may be from any field of aerospace and not necessarily be propulsion.

 

[Enthalpy]

I've put dozens of ideas there, as "Enthalpy"
saposjoint.net/Forum/viewforum.php?f=66
maybe one fits your desire, like the electric helicopter.

At "sailback boosters" you've an exotic idea, looking poetic, but which I consider a hard money-maker after re-thinking. Anyway, pressure-fed methane-oxygen is interesting by itself, for simplicity and performance.

Atmospheric agility for spacecraft is making some buzz, but it's more for the military, alas. Titled "X-37B" there.

The topic "Power plant for spacecraft " would be very useful to implement. Thermal Solar electricity, RTG, cryocoolers to store oxygen and even hydrogen indefinitely, and so on.

Topic "Water bomber", just as its name says. Fun, useful.

Topic "Vacuum aerostat". Completely useless, but at least it's difficult.

 

[NatSusan]

Hi there! As a fellow aerospace engineering student, I can definitely relate to the struggle of choosing a topic for a research paper. Here are a few suggestions that might spark some ideas for you:

1. "The Future of Electric Propulsion in Aerospace Applications" - This topic combines your interest in propulsion with the growing trend of electric propulsion in the aerospace industry. You could explore the potential benefits and challenges of using electric propulsion in various aircraft and spacecraft.

2. "Design and Analysis of a Hybrid Rocket Engine" - Hybrid rocket engines are becoming increasingly popular due to their potential for cost-effectiveness and safety. You could focus on designing and analyzing a specific type of hybrid rocket engine and compare it to traditional solid or liquid rocket engines.

3. "Optimization of Wing Geometry for Improved Aerodynamic Performance" - If you're interested in aerodynamics, this topic could be a good fit for you. You could use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to explore different wing geometries and their impact on aircraft performance.

4. "Investigating the Effects of Hypersonic Flight on Aircraft Materials" - With the rise of hypersonic technology, there is a growing need to understand how aircraft materials behave at these extreme speeds. You could research and analyze the effects of hypersonic flight on different types of materials, such as composites or ceramics.

5. "Development of a Sustainable Fuel for Aviation" - Sustainability is a hot topic in the aerospace industry, and there is a lot of research being done on alternative fuels for aviation. You could focus on the development and testing of a specific type of sustainable fuel and its potential for use in commercial aircraft.

I hope these suggestions help get your creative juices flowing. Remember, the key is to choose a topic that genuinely interests you and that you can dive deep into. Good luck with your research paper!