Candidates appearing for GATE 2021 Aerospace Engineering (AE) must know the exam pattern, syllabus, Important topics, books for preparation to crack the exam with the better score. 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.
The GATE 2021 examination will be conducted for 27 different papers (subjects) and Aerospace Engineering is one of them. GATE 2021 examination will be conducted over six days and twelve sessions on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th, Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th of February 2021. The GATE 2021 exam will be conducted by IIT Bombay.
In this article, we are sharing GATE 2021 Aerospace Engineering syllabus and GATE AE exam pattern. All candidates from Aerospace and allied engineering branches who want to appear in GATE 2021 exam with Paper Code ‘AE’ must check here the syllabus, Important topics and exam pattern before starting preparation.
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GATE 2021 Aerospace Engineering Paper Pattern
The paper pattern is as follows:
- Mode of Exam: Online
- Type of Questions: Objective type multiple choice Questions (MCQ) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT)/Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
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.
| TOPICS | MARKS DISTRIBUTION |
| Technical Section | 72 marks |
| General Aptitude | 15 marks |
| Engineering Mathematics | 13 marks |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
| Total Questions | 65 questions |
| Time Duration | 3 hours |
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GATE 2021 AE 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 2021 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. Complex Analysis, Probability and Statistics.
Section 2: Flight Mechanics
Core Topics:
Basics: Atmosphere: Properties, standard atmosphere. Classification of aircraft. Airplane (fixed wing aircraft) configuration and various parts. Pressure altitude; equivalent, calibrated, indicated air speeds; Primary flight instruments: Altimeter, ASI, VSI, Turn-bank indicator. Angle of attack, sideslip; Roll, pitch & yaw controls. Aerodynamic forces and moments.
Static stability: Stability & Control derivatives; longitudinal stick fixed & free stability, horizontal tail position and size; directional stability, vertical tail position and size; lateral stability. Wing dihedral, sweep & position; hinge moments, stick forces.
Airplane Performance: Drag polar; takeoff and landing; steady climb & descent; absolute and service ceiling; range and endurance, load factor, turning flight, V-n diagram. Winds: head, tail & cross winds.
Special Topics:
Dynamic Stability: 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); Dimensional analysis and dynamic similarity; Potential flow theory: sources, sinks, doublets, line vortex
and their superposition. Elementary ideas of viscous flows including boundary layers.
Airfoils and Wings: Airfoil nomenclature; Aerodynamic coefficients: lift, drag and moment; Kutta-Joukoswki theorem; Thin airfoil theory, Kutta condition, starting vortex; Finite wing theory: Prandtl lifting line theory; Induced drag, Critical and drag divergence Mach number.
Compressible Flows: Basic concepts of compressibility, 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; Shock-boundary Layer Interaction.
Section 4: Space Dynamics
Core Topics: determination of trajectory and orbital period in simple cases, Central force motion. Kepler’s Laws, Escape Velocity.
No Special Topics
Section 5: Structures
Core Topics:
Strength of Materials: Stress and strain: Three-dimensional transformations, 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. Statically determinate and indeterminate trusses and beams. Elastic flexural buckling of columns. Stress and strain transformation. Mohr’s Circle. Principal stresses.
Flight vehicle structures: Characteristics 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, heat transfer, combustion Thermochemistry, Thermodynamics.
Aerothermodynamics of Aircraft Engines: Efficiency, thrust, range. Brayton cycle. Engine performance: ramjet, turbojet, turbofan, turboprop and turboshaft engines. Afterburners.
Turbomachinery: Axial compressors: Angular momentum, work and compression, characteristic performance of a single axial compressor stage, efficiency of the compressor and degree of reaction, multi-staging. Centrifugal compressor: Stage dynamics, inducer, impeller and diffuser. Axial turbines: Stage performance.
Rockets: Thrust equation and specific impulse, rocket performance. Multi-staging. Chemical rockets. Performance of solid and liquid propellant rockets.
Special Topics:
Aerothermodynamics of non-rotating propulsion components such as intakes, combustor and nozzle. Turbine blade cooling. Compressor-turbine matching, Surge and stall.
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All the Best for the Preparation..!!
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