UNIT 9+10

aerodynamics

study of airflow

aeronautical

related to the design and construction of aircraft

centre of gravity

theoretical point on the cross-section of an object from which the object’s mass is transmitted vertically downwards due to gravity

compressor

device for pressuring gas inside a vessel or network of pipes

data gathering

collecting and recording the results of tests for later analysis

deformable

can change shape

deploy

release/eject/open, e.g. when skydivers pull the cord of their parachute, the parachute is deployed

destructible

can be I is designed to be broken/destroyed

DIY store

Do It Yourself store - hardware I home improvements store selling building materials and tools to consumers

pressure gauge

device which shows a pressure reading, e.g. in bar or psi (pounds per square inch]

turbulence

disturbed airflow - i.e. air not flowing smoothly around an object

vacuum

volume containing no gas, e.g. space

windshield

glass at front of a vehicle or aircraft which the driver or pilot looks through, also called a windscreen in British English

bodywork

the external skin of a vehicle; usually consists of several panels

camber

angle that is inclined from horizontal, usually at 90 degrees to the direction of travel, e.g. the camber of a road (the slope of the road across its width)

catenary

downward curved line of a cable when suspended between two supports

coastal defences

large walls, blocks, etc., constructed to protect the coast from sea/ocean erosion

corrode

degrade as a result of a chemical reaction, e.g. iron turning to iron oxide (rust] when exposed to water and air

corrosion

result of material corroding (see above]

derail

come off the rails, e.g. trains can be derailed

detonate

trigger an explosion

fail -safe

cannot fail I go wrong - often used to describe safety systems

horsepower

historic unit of power, has been replaced by Watts but still used to describe power output from engines

inaxial

not in a straight line

opposing forces

forces acting in opposite directions

oscillation

wave pattern

reverse thrust

thrust directed in the opposite direction to that which a vehicle/aircraft is travelling in, intended to slow the vehicle/aircraft

rpm

revolutions per minute, used to measure the speed of rotary motion

sled

vehicle that slides along (i.e. does not have wheels], e.g. a sled designed to travel over snow

stress

the force(s] exerted on an object, e.g. tensile stress in a cable that is being pulled in opposite directions

superstructure

the part of a structure that is above ground level - the opposite is the substructure

computer models and simulations

?

reduced-scale testing

?

full-scale testing

?

The acid test

a crucial trial to prove whether or not something works

back-to-back testing

trials to compare two different solutions, in the same conditions

in the field

outdoors, in a real situation

mock-up

a 3D model simulating shape and size, but without internal components

trial run

a practical test of something new or unknown to discover its effectiveness

tried-and-tested

proven to be reliable through real use I trials

validate

prove theoretical concepts by testing them in reality

virtual

describes something simulated by software, not physical

trial and error

the process of experimenting with various methods of doing something until one finds the most successful

on a steep learning curve

something that is difficult (and takes much effort) to learn

anticipate

regard as probable; expect or predict

totally exceeded our expectations

?

adequate/inadequate

satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity/lacking the quality or quantity required; insufficient for a purpose

appropriate/suitable

good enough for the intended function

consistent/reliable

makes the most of resources, isn't wasteful

cost-effective/economical

performs a function well

effective

the right solution for a particular situation

efficient

doesn't break down, always performs in the same way

sufficient/ adequate

works quickly and well

~adequate

inadequate

~appropriate

inappropriate

~consistent

inconsistent

~economical

uneconomical

~effective

ineffective

~efficient

unefficient

~reliable

unreliable

~sufficient

insufficient

~suitable

unsuitable

positioning factors

defines where your product (item or service) stands in relation to others offering similar products and services in the marketplace as well as the mind of the consumer

compression

the reduction in volume (causing an increase in pressure) of the fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine before ignition

bending

shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle

centrifugal force

a force, arising from the body's inertia, which appears to act on a body moving in a circular path and is directed away from the centre around which the body is moving

contraction

the process of becoming smaller

expansion

the action of becoming larger or more extensive

friction

the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another

pressure

continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it

shear

a strain produced by pressure in the structure of a substance, when its layers are laterally shifted in relation to each other

tension

apply a force to (something) which tends to stretch it

torsion/torque

the action of twisting or the state of being twisted, especially of one end of an object relative to the other

marginally

to only a limited extent; slightly

substantially

for the most part; essentially

exposed to (a force)/

subjected to

resist (a force)/

cope with/withstand

go beyond (a limit)/

exceed/surpass

suitable for (a use)/

intended for

can/

able to/capable of