Which aerospace engineering book is best for beginners?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for beginner-friendly aerospace engineering books, with participants sharing their experiences and suggestions. The scope includes theoretical understanding, practical applications, and resources for self-study in aerospace engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant found two specific books on Amazon but expressed uncertainty about their difficulty level for someone without an engineering background.
  • Another participant cautioned that the recommended books may not be suitable for those who struggle with math.
  • A participant suggested online resources from NASA and other educational websites to supplement learning in aerospace engineering.
  • One participant, who has a good background in physics and math, reported finding one of the books enlightening despite lacking formal engineering study.
  • There was a repeated emphasis on the importance of mathematics in aerodynamics and physics, with participants sharing a sentiment of frustration regarding the mathematical demands of the field.
  • A participant sought recommendations for books specifically focused on aircraft design and mentioned having Raymer's book, which they found practical and straightforward.
  • Another participant echoed the practicality of Raymer's book, noting its focus on rules of thumb rather than derivations, which aligns with their current learning needs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of mathematics in aerospace engineering, but there is no consensus on which books are best for beginners, as experiences and preferences vary widely.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the difficulty of the recommended books based on their mathematical background, and there are varying opinions on the necessity of derivations in learning materials.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in aerospace engineering, particularly beginners seeking book recommendations or supplementary resources for self-study.

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If you are not very good at math, those books are not for the faint of heart.
 
How about websites such as http://wright.nasa.gov/airplane/shortw.html, or http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/#Principles

I am going through these sites now to increase my knowledge of aerospace as i am a mech eng student.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Actually i have a good background in both physics and math. It's just that i have never studied enginnering before. Anyway, i got the first one and i find it very enlightening so far. Thank you for your your answers.
 
Cyrus said:
If you are not very good at math, those books are not for the faint of heart.

As an aero PhD once told me..."you can't get far in aerodynamics without the maths". :cry:
 
dtango said:
As an aero PhD once told me..."you can't get far in aerodynamics without the maths". :cry:

I think that this applies to every subfield of physics.
 
dark_raider said:
I think that this applies to every subfield of physics.

Hear, hear!...

It still makes me want to :cry: however!
 
"It still makes me want to :cry: how ever!"
May this site helps you "2020ok.com" if you want to ebooks on engineering..
2020ok.com > Engineering > Aerospace > Aerodynamics > Aeronautics in Theory and Experiments
And there are many ebooks on Aerospace engineering.
 
I'm looking for some on aircraft design, and I'm having issues finding one. Does anyone know and particularly good ones?
 
  • #10
Lancelot59 said:
I'm looking for some on aircraft design, and I'm having issues finding one. Does anyone know and particularly good ones?

I have Raymer's "Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach". Raymer is very straightforward and provides many rules of thumb to keep initial design as simple as possible. Don't expect derivations however. Very practical book in my opinion.
 
  • #11
dtango said:
I have Raymer's "Aircraft Design: A Conceptual Approach". Raymer is very straightforward and provides many rules of thumb to keep initial design as simple as possible. Don't expect derivations however. Very practical book in my opinion.

At this phase I'm not too interested in the derivation of the equations, so it's not an issue. I'll see if I can find a copy. Thanks for the tip!
 

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