11–12Engineering Studies 11–12 Syllabus (2026)

Determine the strength-to-weight ratio (yield or proof stress divided by density) for Ti-6Al-4V, high tensile steel, 2024 aluminium alloy and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (in an epoxy matrix) using provided data

Explain why operating at a temperature above a metal's recrystallisation temperature affects its strength

Describe the function of nickel superalloys in the combustion chamber of jet engines

Justify the selection of aerospace materials using materials selection diagrams (MSDs) that compare strength to density and toughness to strength

Justify suitable insulating materials for spacecraft during re-entry

Explain reasons for the use of the nickel superalloy 625 in aerospace applications

Justify the selection of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) blades with a titanium leading edge for the intake of a turbofan

Explain the choice of Alclad aluminium alloy in aeronautical engineering

Justify the use of composite materials, including CFRPs, glass laminated aluminium reinforced epoxy (GLARE), fibre metal laminates (FML) and metal matrix composites (MMC), and the contribution that each constituent material makes to these composites

Evaluate the use of materials, including metallic alloys, composites and fibre-optic systems in aerospace applications and their impact on weight reduction, thermal management, structural integrity and data transmission

Describe the ethical, environmental and societal responsibilities engineers consider when adopting new materials in aerospace engineering

Explain how the anisotropic properties of carbon fibre composites enhance aircraft design

Compare the mechanical behaviour of CFRPs and aluminium alloy 2024 under tensile, compressive and fatigue stress

Explain precipitation hardening and how the heat treatment procedure, used to produce precipitates in aluminium-copper alloys, alters the strength of components, including aircraft rivets

Describe hand and vacuum layup of a fibre epoxy resin composite component

Describe the manufacturing process of carbon fibre filament

Explain the process of additive manufacturing of titanium alloys for aerospace applications

Describe the process of investment casting turbine blades for aircraft applications

Explain the manufacturing process of compression moulding in aircraft applications

Explain the impact of fatigue on the service life of aircraft structures with reference to historical examples and engineering strategies for mitigation

Compare non-destructive testing (NDT) methods in terms of their application and suitability, including visual inspection, dye penetration, radiography (X-ray), gamma ray, ultrasonic and magnetic particle testing

Describe the need for impact-resistant materials in aerospace components, with a focus on turbofan intake blades

Outline the aerodynamic principles of a boomerang

Explain, using labelled sketches, how lift is generated by airflow over an aerofoil using Bernoulli’s principle and Newton’s third law

Describe how angle of attack influences lift and how excessive angle of attack can lead to airflow separation and stall

Explain the purpose of the aircraft fuselage, wings, winglets and empennage

Describe the function of primary control surfaces, including ailerons, rudder, elevator and elevons, in controlling the roll, pitch and yaw of an aircraft

Describe how the forces of weight, lift, thrust and drag act on aircraft using acceleration due to gravity as 10 m/s²

Apply graphical solutions and analytical calculations involving the lift, thrust and drag of an aircraft in steady flight conditions, including constant velocity, straight and level flight, and climbing and descending flight, given its angle of attack and mass

Calculate and interpret the lift-to-drag ratio in steady flight conditions to assess aircraft efficiency and performance

Describe the 4 stages of combustion in jet and four-stroke engines

Describe the influence of low air pressure at increasing altitude on the power output of piston engines in aircraft

Compare the use of turbojet, turboprop and high-bypass turbofan engines

Apply Pascal’s principle to calculate force in a confined incompressible fluid system

Explain how a Pitot tube and static port measure aircraft speed using the difference between total pressure and static pressure

Explain how an altimeter determines altitude from changes in atmospheric pressure measured at the static port

Justify the use of phase modulation in satellite communication using comparisons of frequency modulation (FM) and phase modulation techniques

Compare common satellite orbits and describe their applications, including low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), geostationary orbit and geosynchronous orbit

Justify the use of LEO satellite constellations and evaluate their impact on technologies, with a focus on global positioning systems (GPS)

Describe how trilateration is used by satellites to locate a position on earth

Compare how different radio frequency bands, including microwave frequencies, affect satellite communication

Use the Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100) engineering conventions for radius, diameter, pitch circle diameter and centre-line on scaled orthogonal drawings

Develop engineering drawings using the appropriate Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100) symbols and conventions

Apply dimensioned tolerances to shafts and holes

Draw scaled, dimensioned orthogonal drawings applying the Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100) using technical drawing equipment

Apply hatching to sections of single and adjoining parts, identifying exceptions for webs, ribs, bolts, rivets, nuts, shafts, keys, pins and similar components

Draw pictorial representations of aeronautical components

Interpret engineering drawings to determine key features

Distinguish between true length and non-true length lines and apply graphical methods to determine true length

Apply triangulation and auxiliary plane methods to produce the true shape of a surface using technical drawing equipment

Analyse developments of transition pieces and describe their use in the fabrication of components