GATE 2020 Aerospace Engineering Syllabus, Exam Pattern

The GATE score/rank is a gateway for admissions to postgraduate studies in engineering. (ME, MTech, MS, Direct PhD) in institutes like IITs, IISc and other prestigious Institutes as well as by PSUs in recruitment. GATE score not only helps in admissions but also provide financial aid in the form of UGC scholarship. Candidates appearing for GATE 2020 Aerospace Engineering (AE) must know the exam pattern, syllabus, Important topics, books for GATE AE exam to crack the exam with a better GATE score.

The GATE 2019 examination was conducted for 24 different fields only and Aerospace Engineering is one of them, moreover, Biomedical Engineering is the recently added to the list for GATE 2020 subjects. Since the GATE 2020 examination is expected to be conducted in 1st week of February i.e. 01, 02, 08 and 09 February, the candidates must be aware of all the details required. The GATE 2020 exam will be conducted by IIT Delhi.

In this article, we are sharing GATE 2020 Aerospace Engineering syllabus and the exam pattern. All candidates from Aerospace and allied engineering branches who want to appear in GATE 2020 exam with GATE 2020 Paper Code ‘AE’ must check this syllabus before starting preparation.

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GATE 2020 Aerospace Engineering Exam Pattern

The paper pattern is as follows:

• Mode of Exam: Online
• Type of Questions: Objective type multiple choice Questions (MCQ) and Numerical

The paper pattern consists of two types of question namely

• Multiple Choice Questions which are objective type questions each having 4 choices of answers. They are of 1 or 2 marks in all Sections. It also includes negative marking. Hence, for each correct answer 1 will be added and for each incorrect answer 0.33 mark will be deducted and for each 2 marker question correct answer gives 2 marks and incorrect answer deducts 0.66 marks.

• Numeric Answer Questions are different from Previous MCQs. They do not include any choices they have answers which are real numbers which are to inserted by virtual keypad appeared on the monitor via mouse. They also have 1 or 2 markers in different sections. No negative marking is there for such questions.

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GATE 2020 Aerospace Engineering Syllabus

In each of the following sections, the topics have been divided into two categories – Core Topics and Special Topics. The corresponding sections of the GATE 2020 Aerospace Engineering question paper will contain 90% of the questions from Core Topics and the remaining 10% from Special Topics.

Section1: Engineering Mathematics

Core Topics:

Linear Algebra:  Matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, rank of a matrix, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, Vector algebra.

Calculus: mean value theorem, chain rule, partial derivatives, maxima and minima, gradient, divergence and curl, directional derivatives.  Functions of single variable, limits, continuity and differentiability, Integration, Line, surface and volume integrals.Theorems of Stokes, Gauss and Green.

Differential Equations: Partial differential equations and separation of variables methods; First order linear and nonlinear differential equations, higher order linear ODEs with constant coefficients.

Special Topics:

Laplace Transforms, Fourier Series, Numerical methods for linear and nonlinear algebraic equations, Numerical integration and differentiation.

Section 2: Flight Mechanics

Core Topics:

Fundamental: Atmosphere: Properties, standard atmosphere. Classification of aircraft. Airplane (fixed wing aircraft) configuration and various parts.

Static stability: longitudinal stick fixed & free stability, horizontal tail position and size; roll, pitch & yaw controls; Angle of attack, sideslip; directional stability, vertical tail position and size; dihedral stability. Wing dihedral, sweep & position; hinge moments, stick forces.

Airplane Performance: Primary flight instruments: Altimeter, ASI, VSI, Turn-bank indicator. Pressure altitude; equivalent, calibrated, indicated air speeds; Drag polar; takeoff and landing; cruise, cruise climb, endurance or loiter; load factor, turning flight, V-n diagram; steady climb & descent, absolute and service ceiling; Winds: head, tail & cross winds;

Special Topics:

Stability (dynamic): basics of aerodynamic forces and moments, stability & control derivatives; decoupling of longitudinal and lateral-directional dynamics; Equations of motion; longitudinal modes; lateral-directional modes, Euler angles.

Section 3: Aerodynamics

Core Topics:

Basic Fluid Mechanics: Laws of Conservation: Mass, momentum (Integral and differential form); Potential flow theory:  doublets, sources, sinks, line vortex and their superposition; Viscosity, Reynolds number.

Wings and Airfoils: Airfoil nomenclature; Aerodynamic coefficients: lift, drag and moment; Kutta-Joukoswki theorem; Thin airfoil theory, Kutta condition, starting vortex; Finite wing theory: Prandtl lifting theory; Induced drag, Critical and drag divergence Mach number.

Compressible Flows: Fundamental concepts of compressibility, Conservation equations; One-dimensional compressible flows, Fanno flow, Rayleigh flow; Isentropic flows, normal and oblique shocks, Prandtl-Meyer flow; Flow through nozzles and diffusers.

Special Topics:

Wind Tunnel Testing: Measurement and visualization techniques; Elementary ideas of viscous flows including boundary layers.

Section 4: Space Dynamics

Core Topics: determination of trajectory and orbital period in simple cases, Central force motion.

Special Topics: Orbit transfer, in-plane and out-of-plane.

Section 5: Structures

Core Topics:

Strength of Materials: Basics of stress and strain. Stress and strain transformation. Mohr’s Circle. Principal stresses. Three-dimensional Hooke’s law. Plane stress and strain; Failure Theories- Max. stress, Tresca and von Mises; Strain energy. Castigliano’s principles. Analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate trusses and beams. Elastic flexural buckling of columns.

Flight vehicle structures: properties of aircraft structures and materials. Torsion, bending and flexural shear of thin-walled sections. Loads on aircraft.

Structural Dynamics: Free and forced vibrations of undamped and damped SDOF systems. Free vibrations of undamped 2-DOF systems.

Special Topics:

Vibration of beams. Theory of elasticity: Equilibrium and compatibility equations, Airy’s stress function.

Section 6: Propulsion

Core Topics:

Basics: Boundary layers and heat transfer and combustion Thermochemistry, Thermodynamics.

Thermodynamics of Aircraft Engines: Efficiency, thrust, and engine performance of turbojet, turboshaft, turbofan, turboprop and ramjet engines, thrust augmentation of turbojets and turbofan engines. Aerothermodynamics of non-rotating propulsion, components such as intakes, combustor and nozzle.

Axial compressors:  efficiency of the compressor and degree of reaction, Angular momentum, work and compression, characteristic performance of a single axial compressor stage.

Axial turbines: Axial turbine stage efficiency

Centrifugal compressors : Centrifugal compressor stage dynamics, inducer, impeller and diffuser.

Rocket propulsion: Classification of chemical rockets, performance of solid and liquid propellant rockets. Vehicle acceleration, drag, Thrust equation and specific impulse, gravity losses, multi-staging of rockets.

No Special Topics for this section

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All the Best for the Preparation..!!

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