1.
Basic Material Properties
- Material
science studies properties and behavior of engineering materials.
- All
materials are classified as metals, ceramics, polymers, or composites.
- Metals are
good conductors of heat and electricity.
- Non-metals
are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
- Density is
mass per unit volume.
- Elasticity
is the ability of a material to return to its original shape after
deformation.
- Plasticity
is the ability to permanently deform without breaking.
- Ductility
allows a material to be drawn into wires.
- Malleability
allows a material to be hammered into thin sheets.
- Brittleness
means a material breaks easily without deformation.
2.
Mechanical Properties
- Tensile
strength is the maximum stress before breaking.
- Compressive
strength resists squeezing forces.
- Shear
strength resists sliding forces.
- Hardness
measures resistance to indentation.
- Toughness
is the ability to absorb energy before fracture.
- Fatigue is
failure caused by repeated stress cycles.
- Creep is
slow deformation under constant stress and temperature.
- Stress is
force per unit area.
- Strain is
the deformation caused by stress.
- Hooke’s
Law states stress is proportional to strain within elastic limit.
3.
Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals
- Ferrous
metals contain iron.
- Non-ferrous
metals do not contain iron.
- Steel is
an alloy of iron and carbon.
- Stainless
steel contains chromium for corrosion resistance.
- Cast iron
is brittle but strong in compression.
- Aluminum
is lightweight and corrosion resistant.
- Copper is
a good conductor of electricity.
- Brass is
an alloy of copper and zinc.
- Bronze is
an alloy of copper and tin.
- Titanium
is strong, light, and resistant to corrosion — used in aircraft.
4.
Heat Treatment
- Heat
treatment changes the physical properties of metals.
- Annealing
softens the metal and relieves stress.
- Normalizing
refines grain structure and improves toughness.
- Hardening
increases hardness by rapid cooling.
- Quenching
is the process of rapid cooling in oil or water.
- Tempering
reduces brittleness after hardening.
- Case
hardening hardens only the surface of steel.
- Solution
heat treatment is used for aluminum alloys.
- Precipitation
hardening increases strength by forming fine particles.
- Age
hardening strengthens certain alloys over time.
5.
Corrosion and Protection
- Corrosion
is the deterioration of metal by chemical or electrochemical reaction.
- Oxidation
is a common form of corrosion.
- Galvanic
corrosion occurs when two dissimilar metals contact in moisture.
- Pitting
corrosion causes small, deep holes in metal.
- Intergranular
corrosion occurs along grain boundaries.
- Filiform
corrosion appears as thread-like lines under paint.
- Stress
corrosion cracking occurs under tensile stress and corrosive environment.
- Erosion
corrosion is caused by high-speed fluid flow.
- Fretting
corrosion occurs due to vibration and movement.
- Protective
coatings and paints prevent corrosion.
6.
Composite Materials
- Composite
materials are made of two or more different materials.
- Fiber-reinforced
plastics are commonly used in aircraft.
- Matrix
binds the reinforcement together.
- Reinforcement
provides strength and stiffness.
- Glass
fibre is cheap but less strong.
- Carbon
fibre is lightweight and very strong.
- Kevlar
fibre is strong and resistant to impact.
- Honeycomb
structures provide high strength with low weight.
- Sandwich
panels consist of skins and core.
- Composites
are resistant to corrosion and fatigue.
7.
Plastics and Rubber
- Thermoplastics
soften when heated and harden when cooled.
- Thermosetting
plastics harden permanently when heated.
- Nylon,
polyethylene, and PVC are thermoplastics.
- Epoxy and
phenolic resins are thermosetting plastics.
- Rubber is
an elastic material used for seals and gaskets.
- Natural
rubber is made from latex of trees.
- Synthetic
rubber is made from petroleum products.
- O-rings
provide tight seals in hydraulic and fuel systems.
- Plastic
components are lightweight but can deform with heat.
- Plasticizers
improve flexibility of plastics.
8.
Aircraft Hardware
- Aircraft
hardware includes bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, and washers.
- AN and MS
standards are used for aircraft fasteners.
- Bolts are
used where high strength is required.
- Screws are
used for light loads and soft materials.
- Self-locking
nuts prevent loosening from vibration.
- Cotter
pins secure castle nuts.
- Washers
distribute load and protect surfaces.
- Rivets are
permanent fasteners for joining metal sheets.
- Solid
rivets require access to both sides of the joint.
- Blind
rivets are used where only one side is accessible.
9.
Bearings, Pipes, and Control Cables
- Bearings
reduce friction between moving parts.
- Ball
bearings use spherical balls between races.
- Roller
bearings use cylindrical rollers for higher load capacity.
- Plain
bearings rely on lubrication between surfaces.
- Bushings
are sleeve-type plain bearings.
- Flexible
hoses are used for fluid systems.
- Rigid
pipes are made from aluminium or stainless steel.
- Pipe
fittings include flared, flareless, and beaded types.
- Safety
wiring prevents loosening of critical fittings.
- Aircraft
control cables are made of stainless steel.
10.
Inspection, Testing, and Safety
- Visual
inspection detects surface defects.
- Dye
penetrant testing reveals surface cracks.
- Magnetic
particle testing detects surface cracks in ferrous metals.
- Eddy
current testing detects cracks without removing paint.
- Ultrasonic
testing detects internal flaws using sound waves.
- Radiographic
testing uses X-rays for internal inspection.
- Hardness
testing determines resistance to indentation.
- Impact
testing measures material toughness.
- Always
wear PPE during material handling and testing.
- Proper
storage prevents corrosion and contamination of materials.
1.
Basics of Digital Systems
- Digital
systems work with discrete values, usually 0 and 1.
- Analog
systems work with continuous values.
- Binary
number system is used in all digital circuits.
- A bit is a
binary digit, either 0 or 1.
- A byte
consists of 8 bits.
- Nibble is
a group of 4 bits.
- Binary
numbers are converted to decimal for interpretation.
- The octal
number system uses base 8.
- The
hexadecimal system uses base 16.
- Hexadecimal
is often used in computer memory addressing.
2.
Logic Gates
- Logic
gates perform basic logic operations.
- AND gate
output is 1 only if all inputs are 1.
- OR gate
output is 1 if any input is 1.
- NOT gate
inverts the input signal.
- NAND gate
output is opposite of AND gate.
- NOR gate
output is opposite of OR gate.
- XOR gate
output is 1 when inputs are different.
- XNOR gate
output is 1 when inputs are the same.
- Truth
tables show input-output logic relationships.
- Boolean
algebra simplifies digital circuits.
3.
Number Systems and Codes
- Binary
addition follows 1+1 = 10 rule.
- Binary
subtraction follows 10−1 = 1 rule.
- BCD stands
for Binary-Coded Decimal.
- ASCII code
represents letters and numbers in computers.
- Parity
bits are used for error detection.
- Even
parity means total number of 1s is even.
- Odd parity
means total number of 1s is odd.
- Gray code
changes only one bit between adjacent numbers.
- Excess-3
code is used in digital counters.
- Codes help
reduce data transmission errors.
4.
Logic Circuits
- Combinational
logic depends only on current inputs.
- Sequential
logic depends on current and past inputs.
- Flip-flops
store one bit of data.
- SR
flip-flop has Set and Reset inputs.
- JK
flip-flop eliminates invalid states.
- D
flip-flop transfers input at clock edge.
- T
flip-flop toggles its state when triggered.
- Latches
are used for temporary data storage.
- Counters
count pulses in digital circuits.
- Shift
registers move data in serial or parallel form.
5.
Microprocessors and Computers
- A
microprocessor is the brain of a digital system.
- Microprocessor
performs arithmetic and logic operations.
- CPU stands
for Central Processing Unit.
- CPU
includes ALU, control unit, and registers.
- ALU stands
for Arithmetic Logic Unit.
- Memory
stores data and instructions.
- RAM is
volatile memory that loses data when power is off.
- ROM is
non-volatile memory that retains data permanently.
- EEPROM can
be electrically erased and reprogrammed.
- Cache
memory speeds up processor operations.
6.
Computer Systems
- Hardware
includes physical components like CPU, keyboard, and monitor.
- Software
is a set of instructions for hardware.
- Operating
system manages computer resources.
- BIOS
stands for Basic Input Output System.
- Input
devices include keyboard, mouse, and scanner.
- Output
devices include monitor and printer.
- Storage
devices include hard drive, SSD, and USB.
- Data bus
carries data between components.
- Address
bus carries memory addresses.
- Control
bus manages operation timing and control signals.
7.
Digital Data Transmission
- Data
transmission can be serial or parallel.
- In serial
transmission, bits are sent one after another.
- In
parallel transmission, multiple bits are sent simultaneously.
- Synchronous
transmission uses a clock signal.
- Asynchronous
transmission uses start and stop bits.
- Baud rate
defines number of signal changes per second.
- Modulation
converts digital data to analog signals.
- Demodulation
converts analog signal back to digital.
- Multiplexing
allows multiple signals on one channel.
- Demultiplexing
separates combined signals.
8.
Aircraft Digital Systems
- Modern
aircraft use digital avionics for precision and reliability.
- ADC
converts analog signals to digital form.
- DAC
converts digital signals to analog form.
- ARINC 429
is a common digital data bus in aircraft.
- ARINC 429
uses one-way transmission and two wires.
- ARINC 629
allows multiple transmitters on one bus.
- MIL-STD-1553
is used in military aircraft.
- Digital
data buses reduce wiring complexity.
- Redundancy
ensures system reliability in avionics.
- EFIS
displays flight data on LCD or CRT screens.
9.
Instrument Systems
- Digital
instruments replace traditional mechanical gauges.
- ADCs are
used in digital flight data systems.
- Flight
Data Recorder (FDR) stores aircraft data continuously.
- Cockpit
Voice Recorder (CVR) stores crew communications.
- Digital
Air Data Computer (ADC) calculates altitude and airspeed.
- Attitude
and Heading Reference System (AHRS) provides aircraft attitude.
- Inertial
Reference System (IRS) uses accelerometers and gyros.
- Gyros
sense angular rotation.
- Accelerometers
sense linear acceleration.
- Glass
cockpit integrates multiple displays into one system.
10.
Safety, Maintenance, and Testing
- Static
electricity can damage electronic circuits.
- Always use
anti-static wrist straps when handling components.
- Grounding
prevents electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage.
- Continuity
testing checks complete electrical paths.
- Insulation
testing ensures isolation between circuits.
- Logic
probes test digital high or low states.
- Oscilloscopes
display voltage over time.
- Multi meters
measure voltage, current, and resistance.
- Built-in
Test Equipment (BITE) detects faults automatically.
- Regular
calibration ensures accurate electronic readings.
1.
Basics of Electronics
- Electronics
deals with the flow of electrons in vacuum, gas, or semiconductor.
- Current
flow in electronics is controlled using components.
- Electric
current is the movement of free electrons in a circuit.
- Voltage is
the potential difference that drives current.
- Resistance
limits the amount of current in a circuit.
- Conductors
allow easy flow of electrons.
- Insulators
resist the flow of electrons.
- Semiconductors
have conductivity between conductors and insulators.
- Silicon
and germanium are common semiconductor materials.
- Doping
adds impurities to semiconductor to change its properties.
2.
Types of Current
- Direct
current (DC) flows in one direction only.
- Alternating
current (AC) changes direction periodically.
- DC voltage
is constant over time.
- AC voltage
varies sinusoidally with time.
- Frequency
is the number of AC cycles per second.
- Frequency
is measured in hertz (Hz).
- Period is
the time taken for one complete AC cycle.
- The RMS
value of AC gives equivalent DC value.
- Peak value
is the maximum value of an AC waveform.
- Average
value of AC equals 0.637 × peak value.
3.
Conductors, Resistors, and Materials
- Ohm’s law
states V = I × R.
- Resistance
increases with temperature in most metals.
- Resistivity
depends on material type and temperature.
- Conductivity
is the reciprocal of resistivity.
- Colour
codes identify resistor values.
- Fixed
resistors have constant resistance.
- Variable
resistors allow resistance adjustment.
- Potentiometers
act as voltage dividers.
- Thermistors
change resistance with temperature.
- LDRs
(Light Dependent Resistors) change resistance with light intensity.
4.
Capacitors
- Capacitor
stores electrical energy in an electric field.
- Capacitance
is the ability to store charge.
- Unit of
capacitance is the farad (F).
- Capacitance
increases with plate area and decreases with plate distance.
- Dielectric
material increases capacitor’s efficiency.
- Energy
stored in a capacitor = ½ C × V².
- Capacitor
blocks DC and allows AC to pass.
- Electrolytic
capacitors are polarized.
- Ceramic
capacitors are non-polarized.
- Capacitors
are used for filtering, timing, and coupling circuits.
5.
Inductors
- Inductor
stores energy in a magnetic field.
- Inductance
opposes change in current flow.
- Unit of
inductance is the henry (H).
- Inductance
increases with more coil turns.
- Inductance
increases with iron or ferrite core.
- Inductive
reactance increases with frequency.
- Formula
for inductive reactance: XL = 2πfL.
- Inductors
are used in filters and tuned circuits.
- Mutual
inductance occurs between two nearby coils.
- Energy
stored in inductor = ½ L × I².
6.
AC Circuits
- In
resistive circuit, voltage and current are in phase.
- In
inductive circuit, current lags voltage by 90 degrees.
- In
capacitive circuit, current leads voltage by 90 degrees.
- Impedance
(Z) is total opposition to AC current.
- Impedance
combines resistance and reactance.
- Formula: Z
= √(R² + (XL − XC)²).
- Power
factor = cos φ, where φ is phase angle.
- True power
= V × I × cos φ.
- Apparent
power = V × I.
- Reactive
power = V × I × sin φ.
7.
Diodes
- A diode
allows current to flow in one direction only.
- It has an
anode and a cathode terminal.
- P-N
junction forms when p-type and n-type materials join.
- Forward
bias allows current to pass through diode.
- Reverse
bias blocks current flow.
- Silicon
diode forward voltage drop is about 0.7 V.
- Germanium
diode forward voltage drop is about 0.3 V.
- Zener
diode operates in reverse breakdown region for voltage regulation.
- LED emits
light when forward biased.
- Photodiode
generates current when exposed to light.
8.
Rectifiers and Power Supplies
- Rectifiers
convert AC voltage into DC voltage.
- Half-wave
rectifier uses one diode.
- Full-wave
rectifier uses two or four diodes.
- Bridge
rectifier uses four diodes in bridge configuration.
- Filter
capacitor smooths pulsating DC output.
- Ripple
voltage is unwanted AC variation in DC output.
- Voltage
regulators maintain constant DC output.
- Linear
regulator dissipates excess voltage as heat.
- Switching
regulator uses high-frequency switching for efficiency.
- Power
supply converts and stabilizes electrical power for circuits.
9.
Transistors
- Transistor
is a three-terminal semiconductor device.
- Terminals
are emitter, base, and collector.
- NPN and
PNP are two transistor types.
- Small base
current controls large collector current.
- Transistor
acts as amplifier or switch.
- Current
gain (β) = collector current / base current.
- In common
emitter configuration, output is inverted.
- Biasing
sets correct operating point of transistor.
- Saturation
means transistor fully conducts.
- Cut-off
means transistor completely off.
10.
Digital Electronics and Logic Gates
- Digital
signals have two states: ON (1) and OFF (0).
- Analog
signals vary continuously.
- Logic
gates perform basic digital operations.
- AND gate
output is 1 only if all inputs are 1.
- OR gate
output is 1 if any input is 1.
- NOT gate
output is opposite of input.
- NAND gate
output is opposite of AND output.
- NOR gate
output is opposite of OR output.
- XOR gate
output is 1 when inputs are different.
- Digital
electronics form the basis of computer and avionics systems.
1. Basic Arithmetic
- Mathematics
is the science of numbers and quantities.
- Addition
combines two or more quantities into one.
- Subtraction
finds the difference between two numbers.
- Multiplication
is repeated addition of the same number.
- Division
splits a number into equal parts.
- The
order of operations follows BODMAS rule.
- BODMAS
means Brackets, Orders, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction.
- A
fraction shows a part of a whole.
- The
numerator is the number above the fraction line.
- Below the fraction line the number is called denominator.
2. Fractions and Decimals
- Like
fractions have the same denominator.
- Unlike
fractions have different denominators.
- To
add fractions, make denominators the same.
- Improper
fractions have numerators larger than denominators.
- Mixed
fractions combine whole numbers and fractions.
- Decimal
numbers are fractions with denominators as powers of ten.
- To
convert a fraction to a decimal, divide numerator by denominator.
- To
convert a decimal to percentage, multiply by 100.
- 0.75
equals ¾ or 75%.
- 1/5
equals 0.2 or 20%.
3. Ratios and Proportions
- A
ratio compares two quantities by division.
- A
proportion shows two ratios are equal.
- Ratios
can be simplified like fractions.
- Direct
proportion means both quantities increase together.
- Inverse
proportion means one quantity increases, the other decreases.
- Example:
speed and time are inversely proportional.
- Example:
distance and time are directly proportional.
- Cross
multiplication is used to solve proportions.
- Percentage
= (part ÷ whole) × 100.
- Ratio
2:3 means for every 2 of one, there are 3 of another.
4. Powers and Roots
- A
power or index shows repeated multiplication.
.
- Any
number to power zero equals one.
- A
square is a number multiplied by itself.
- A number multiplied by itself twice is called cube.
- Square
root is the number that produces a given number when multiplied by itself.
- Cube
root gives a number whose cube equals the original number.
.
.
- Indices
follow rules of addition and subtraction in powers.
5. Algebra Basics
- Algebra
uses symbols to represent unknown quantities.
- A
variable is a letter that represents a number.
- A
term is a combination of numbers and variables.
- A
coefficient is the number multiplied by a variable.
- Like
terms have the same variable and power.
- Unlike
terms have different variables or powers.
- Equation
is a statement showing two expressions are equal.
- To
solve an equation, isolate the variable.
- Linear
equations have variables raised to power one.
- Simultaneous
equations have two or more unknowns solved together.
6. Algebraic Operations
- To
expand brackets, multiply each term inside by the outside term.
- To
factorize, take out common terms or use identities.
.
.
.
- Substitution
means replacing variables with actual numbers.
- Formula
rearrangement changes the subject of formula.
- Transposition
moves terms across the equal sign by changing signs.
- Check
solutions by substituting values back in the equation.
- Quadratic
equations have variables squared (power of 2).
7. Geometry – Angles and Triangles
- knowledge of shapes, sizes, and properties of space is geometry.
- A
line is straight with no thickness.
- An
angle is formed when two lines meet.
- Angles
are measured in degrees (°).
- Right
angle equals 90 degrees.
- Straight
line equals 180 degrees.
- Full
circle equals 360 degrees.
- Acute
angle is less than 90 degrees.
- The Obtuse
angle is greater than 90 but less than 180 degrees.
- Complementary
angles add up to 90 degrees.
8. Triangles and Circles
- The
sum of angles in a triangle is always 180 degrees.
- An
equilateral triangle has all sides equal.
- An
isosceles triangle has two sides equal.
- A
scalene triangle has all sides unequal.
- Pythagoras
theorem:
.
- It
applies only to right-angled triangles.
- Hypotenuse
is the side opposite the right angle.
- Circumference
of circle =
.
- Area
of circle =
.
- Diameter
equals twice the radius.
9. Areas and Volumes
- The Area
of rectangle = length × width.
- The Area
of triangle = ½ × base × height.
- The Area
of parallelogram = base × height.
- Formula of The Area of trapezium = ½ × (sum of parallel sides) × height.
- The Volume
of cube = side³.
- The Volume
of cuboid = length × width × height.
- The Volume
of cylinder = πr²h.
- The Volume
of cone = ⅓πr²h.
- The Volume
of sphere = 4/3πr³.
- The Surface
area of sphere = 4πr².
10. Trigonometry and Statistics
- Trigonometry
relates angles to sides in a triangle.
- Sine
= opposite ÷ hypotenuse.
- Cosine
= adjacent ÷ hypotenuse.
- Tangent
= opposite ÷ adjacent.
.
- The
inverse of sine gives angle from ratio.
- Graphs
visually represent data or equations.
- Formula of Mean
= sum of all values ÷ number of values.
- Median
is the middle value in ordered data.
- Mode
is the value that appears most often.