515.640.8vl - Stealth Science and Engineering
Description
The goal of stealth engineering is the creation of objects that are not easily detected using remote sensing techniques. To achieve this end, engineered systems of materials are arrayed to alter the signature of objects by reducing energy returned to remote observers. This course will provide an introduction to the general principles behind signature reduction by examining the mathematics and science behind basic electromagnetic and acoustic transport processes. Specific topics will include energy absorbing materials, anti-reflection coatings, wave guiding and scattering, metamaterials and adaptive screens.
Instructor
Edward Tucholski
Course Structure
The course materials are divided into weekly units that can be accessed using the course navigation menu and selecting Modules. Each week’s content will have various sections including an overview, readings, recordings and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections before starting. Please check the schedule to make sure you complete reading assignments (or videos) in the order of topics and when they are due, generally before the class when the material is discussed. I will try to make sure you are aware of specific due dates for assignments.
Course Topics
- Introduction and Concepts for Stealth Science and Engineering
- Electromagnetic Waves and Reflections from Surfaces
- Behavior of Metallic Materials, Reflective Surfaces and Surface Waves
Course Goals
The overall goal of this course is to introduce students to underlying scientific and engineering principles used for reducing the signatures of objects for different detection modalities (electromagnetic, acoustic, electrical). This goal can be achieved by designing materials systems that have the ability to re-direct and/or absorb energy associated with the signature signal.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
- Students will learn scientific principles that govern the behaviors of energy absorbing materials, anti-reflection coatings and metamaterials.
- Students will learn methods to design materials systems that can reduce the signature of structures by guiding or reducing energy transport along prescribed pathways.
- Students will develop their abilities to: identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- Students will develop their abilities to: apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of global, and economic factors.
- Students will develop their abilities to: recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- Students will develop their abilities to: function effectively on a team whose members together create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
Textbooks
There is no assigned textbook for this course, but various resources are provided on the Canvas site.
Other Materials & Online Resources
On the Canvas site, I’ve posted pdf files for the following books (which are available online through the JHU library):
• Julius Adams Stratton, Electromagnetic Theory, Print ISBN:9780470131534 |Online ISBN:9781119134640 |DOI:10.1002/9781119134640, 2007, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
• Rolf E. Hummel, Electronic Properties of Materials, eBook ISBN: 978-1-4419-8164-6 | Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4419-8163-9 |DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-8164-6, 2011, Springer-Verlag, New York.
• Tamer Bécherrawy, Mechanical and electromagnetic vibrations and waves, ISBN 978-1-84821-283-1, 2012, CPI Group (UK) Ltd., Croydon, Surrey CR0 4YY.
Required Software
You will have assignments over the semester that will require you to use various computational techniques to solve particular problems. While you can use many different computational packages, two that might useful are MATLAB and Mathematica. You can download student versions for free from the JHU Software Catalog, how to Access Matlab at JHU. I will likely demonstrate various techniques to solve problems using Mathematica, but I know this software is not used for engineering applications as frequently as MATLAB.
Student Coursework Requirements
It is expected that each week’s lecture and assignments will take approximately 7–10 hours to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned reading (approximately 3–4 hours per week), attending lecture periods and reviewing slide presentations (approximately 3–4 hours per week), and writing assignments (approximately 1–2 hours per week).
This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:
Attendance, Preparation and Participation (20% of Final Grade Calculation)
You are responsible for carefully reading all assigned material and being prepared for class. The readings are from textbooks, general interest publications and research journals. Post your journal entries based on the prompts provided by the time indicated in the assignment.
Homework and Assignments (30% of Final Grade Calculation)
Assignments will include a mix of qualitative assignments (journal entries), quantitative problem sets, and design studies. Grading of journal entries is based on the rubric provided in the template provided for your journal. Other assignments will be submitted electronically through the Canvas site under Student Assessment. Please ensure your name and assignment identifier are on the the first page of each submission, and include your name and a page number indicator (i.e., page x of y) on each page of your submissions. All Figures and Tables should be captioned and labeled appropriately including any citations for sources.
Design Study (20% of Final Grade Calculation)
During the semester, you will be asked to conduct one or two design studies. As part of this assignment, you will consider the characteristics of a stealth structure, identify the composite materials you would us in it, assess the ability to make these materials and comment on how well the design satisfies the requirements of the intended application.
Final Term Paper (30% of Final Grade Calculation)
One term paper will be submitted for grading at the end of the semester. It will consist of 15-20 primary-content (text) pages and will include at least 6 archival, authoritative sources as references. You are expected to follow appropriate guidelines in preparing this paper including the use of proper documentation techniques. Other details regarding the assignment will be provided when topics and due dates are announced in class.
Grading Policy
Assignments are due according to the dates posted on the Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the corresponding modules. I will try to post grades one week after assignment due dates.
I generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar, but I will make suggestions and note usage errors. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.
Late submissions will be reduced by one letter grade for each week late (no exceptions without prior coordination with the instructor).
If, after submitting a written assignment you are not satisfied with the grade received, you are encouraged to redo the assignment and resubmit it within 2 days of the posted grade. If the resubmission results in a better grade, that grade will be substituted for the previous grade.
A grade of “A” indicates mastery of course material–that can mean consistent and recognizable excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion.
A grade of “B” indicates that graded work meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work.
EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System” under Academic Regulations in the online Academic Services for EP).
| Score Range | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 100-97 | = A+ |
| 96-93 | = A |
| 92-90 | = A− |
| 89-87 | = B+ |
| 86-83 | = B |
| 82-80 | = B− |
| 79-77 | = C+ |
| 76-73 | = C |
| 72-70 | = C− |
| 69-67 | = D+ |
| 66-63 | = D |
| <63 | = F |
Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:
| Item | % of Grade |
| Attendance, Preparation and Participation | 20% |
| Homework and Assignments | 30% |
| Design Study | 20% |
| Final Term Paper | 30% |
Academic Policies
Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses
Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.
Academic Misconduct Policy
All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.
This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.
Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility
Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.
For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.
Student Conduct Code
The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically.
For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/
Classroom Climate
JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity.
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).
Course Auditing
When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.