week 12

Ariyan Azad posted May 20, 2026 3:12 PM

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855 Words

Revised Technical Description: The Turbofan Engine

Audience and Purpose The intended audience consists of first-year aviation students. This text provides a general description of a turbofan engine. The content focuses on universal operating principles rather than specific engine models.

Introduction Turbofan engines power most modern commercial aircraft. These engines provide high efficiency and high performance with low fuel consumption. A turbofan engine generates forward thrust to force an airplane through the air. Most airplanes house these engines under the wings or at the front of the fuselage. As shown in the Figure 1 diagram, the major components are the fan, compressor, combustor, turbine, and nozzle. Each part works in a specific order to take in air and produce motion.

The Fan The fan is the front component of the engine. It consists of wide vanes made of titanium or lightweight metals. These blades rotate to suck large quantities of air into the engine housing. The fan divides the airflow into two distinct streams. The first stream is the bypass air. Bypass air flows around the outside of the engine core. This air provides up to eighty percent of the total engine thrust. The second stream enters the engine core for processing.

The Compressor The compressor sits directly behind the fan in the engine core. It contains rows of rotating blades and stationary blades called stators. Stators guide the air into the correct spaces between the rotating blades. The compressor forces air into increasingly small spaces. This action increases the air pressure and temperature. The compressor then delivers this high-pressure air into the combustion chamber.

The Combustion Chamber (Combustor) The combustion chamber is located in the center of the engine core. It features an annular structure that surrounds the engine shaft. Fuel injectors spray vaporized fuel into the compressed air stream. Igniters light the fuel and air mixture. This process creates high-energy expanding exhaust gases. The chamber walls contain tiny holes for cool air to enter. This cooling air prevents the metal from melting under intense heat.

The Turbine The turbine consists of a series of bladed wheels behind the combustion chamber. Expanding hot gases rush past the turbine blades. This moving gas forces the turbine wheels to spin at high speeds. A central shaft connects the high-pressure turbine to the compressor. Another internal shaft connects the low-pressure turbine to the front fan. The spinning turbine extracts mechanical energy from the gas to turn the fan and compressor.

The Exhaust Nozzle The exhaust nozzle forms the rear of the engine. Remaining hot gases exit the core through this nozzle. The nozzle shape accelerates the gas as it leaves the engine. The high-speed exhaust gas joins the cooler bypass air from the fan. This combined flow pushes the aircraft forward. Some nozzles use serrated edges called chevrons to mix the air smoothly and reduce noise.

Brainstorming Worksheet: Engineering Proposal Project
Pre-Workshop Preparation
Name: ariyan azad
Date:
Proposed Natural Disaster Topic: Urban flooding in New York City.

Part 1: Defining Your Focus
1.    What natural disaster are you focusing on? (Be specific: type, location, and if possible, a recent example)
New York City has over 1,500 public schools vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surges.

2. What draws you to this disaster? (Why are you interested in it? What stands out to you about its impact?)

3. Identify 1–2 specific problems caused by this disaster (Go beyond general ideas like “damage” or “destruction”)

Problem 1: Saltwater flooding destroys critical electrical and heating systems located in school basements.

Problem 2 (optional): Flood damage forces school closures, which removes community emergency shelters during crises.

4. Who is most affected by this problem? (Be specific: communities, regions, types of people)

Students, faculty, and low-income coastal communities who rely on schools for safety.
5. What are the real-world consequences of this problem? (Think short-term and long-term)
Short-term consequences include loss of education days and emergency shelter space. Long-term consequences include high repair costs for the city and permanent structural weakening of public buildings.

Part 2: Initial Engineering Thinking
6. What is your early idea for a solution? (This does not need to be perfect. Describe your thinking so far.)
Install modular, waterproof barriers and elevate critical mechanical utilities to higher floors.

7. What type(s) of engineering does your idea involve?
Civil

Electrical

Other:

8. What would your solution do in simple terms? (Write this as if explaining to a non-engineer)
Move the important “brains” of the building, like power and heat, away from the water. Use strong walls to keep the water out of the doors.

9. What makes your idea potentially useful or impactful?
This solution keeps schools open and safe during and after a storm.

10. What challenges or limitations do you already see?
High construction costs for older buildings and limited space on upper floors for heavy machinery.

Part 3: Thinking About Your Audience (Funders)
11. Who might fund this project?
Government agency

Other:

12. Why would this audience care about your idea?

These agencies want to reduce the millions of dollars spent on repeated flood repairs.
13. What would this audience need to know to trust your proposal?
They need to see clear data on flood height, cost-benefit analysis, and proof that the materials resist saltwater.

week 7 

Ariyan Azad posted Mar 16, 2026 10:39 PM

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425 Words

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Introduction 
The main mechanism for powering commercial airplanes is a turbofan engine. This type of engine is classified under gas turbines, where chemical energy is converted to mechanical energy. Its main function is to provide enough force to propel an airplane forward. Even though these engines have a simple cylindrical shape, there is a complex process of compressing air and burning it to achieve high speeds.

The turbofan engine consists of four principal components: the intake fan, the compressor, the combustion chamber, and the turbine
Intake Fan: This large component at the front of the engine pulls massive amounts of air into the system. It splits air into two paths known as bypass air and core air. 
Compressor: This part consists of many rows of small blades that spin at high speeds. It squeezes the core air into a small volume to increase its pressure and temperature

Combustion Chamber: The engine injects fuel into the high pressure air in this chamber. Ignition creates a high energy stream of hot, expanding gases.
Turbine: This component sits at the rear and captures energy from escaping hot gases. The turbine connects to a central shaft that provides mechanical power to the front fan and compressor.
How the System Works
The turbofan operates through a continuous step by step process. First, the fan draws in air. Most air flows around the engine core to provide immediate thrust. The remaining air enters the compressor. After the air is compressed and ignited, the expanding gases rush through the turbine. This motion spins the shaft to sustain the entire cycle. The final exhaust exits the rear at high velocity to create thrust.



 1. Introduction clear with the audience and given context indicated? Yes, my introduction identifies the turbofan engine as the object and states its purpose for an audience of first year engineering students.

2) Was the description clearly introduced? Yes, the introduction provides necessary background by explaining the engine’s role in commercial aviation and its basic operating principles. 

3) Did you provide valid and appropriate detail? Yes, the information defines the four major stages of a gas turbine and can be understood by students without overcomplicating the mechanics.

4) Did you explain what the object is, its functions, appearance, and its principle parts? Yes, the draft identifies the engine as a cylinder-like mechanism and explains the function of the fan, compressor, combustion chamber, and turbine

5) Did you take the audience into account? Yes, I used clear language for first year students and explained how internal parts interact to produce thrust without using excessive technical jargon.