GATE Syllabus for Aerospace Engineering (AE) 2025
Aerospace Engineering is a field of engineering related to the development of aircraft and spacecraft. The organizing institute for GATE 2025 will release the GATE syllabus for Aerospace Engineering 2025 on its official website.
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Sections of the GATE Aerospace Engineering Syllabus
Below are the various sections of the GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus:
Section1:
Flight Mechanics
The flight mechanics section of the GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus is important from an exam perspective. Below is the detailed GATE syllabus for aerospace engineering for the flight mechanics section along with special topics.
Topics and subtopics
| Topics | Subtopics |
| Atmosphere | Properties, standard atmosphere
Classification of aircraft Airplane (fixed-wing aircraft) configuration and various parts Pressure altitude; equivalent, calibrated, indicated air speeds Primary flight instruments: Altimeter, ASI, VSI, Turn-bank Indicator The angle of attack, sideslip, Roll, pitch yaw controls Aerodynamic forces and moments. |
| Airplane Performance | Drag polar
Takeoff and landing Steady climb descent Absolute and service ceiling Range and endurance, load factor, turning flight, V-n Diagram Winds: head, tail crosswinds. |
| Static Stability | Stability control derivatives
Longitudinal stick fixed free stability Horizontal tail position and size Directional stability, vertical tail position, and size Lateral stability Wing dihedral, sweep position Hinge moments and stick forces |
Section 2:
Engineering Mathematics
Most engineering disciplines in GATE include Engineering Mathematics as one of their subjects. However, each exam will carry 13 marks for Engineering Mathematics section of the GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus. Also, included in this section are linear algebra, calculus, and differential equations. Meanwhile, the special topics include Fourier series, probability and statistics, complex analysis, numerical integration and differentiation, and numerical methods for linear and nonlinear algebraic equations.
Section 3:
Space Dynamics:
The GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus for the Space Dynamics section includes topics like trajectory determination, central force motion, the orbital period in simple cases, Kepler’s laws, and escape velocity.
Section 4:
Aerodynamics
The Aerodynamics section of the GATE syllabus for Aerospace Engineering consists of potential flow theory, basic fluid mechanics, airfoils and wings, and compressible flow. Apart from this, the special topics include wind tunnel testing, shock-boundary layer interaction, and measurement visualization.
Section 5:
Structures
The structures section of the GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus contains several important topics from the perspective of the exam, including structural dynamics and failure theories.
Below is the syllabus for the structures section of the GATE Syllabus for Aerospace Engineering 2025.
| Topics | Subtopics |
| Strength of Material | Stress and Strain: Plane Stress, Three-dimensional transformations, principle stresses, Mohr’s circle, Three-dimensional Hooke’s law, and strain. |
| Failure Theories | Maximum stress, Tresca von Mises, Strain energy
Castigliano’s principles Statically determinate and indeterminate trusses and beams Elastic flexural buckling of columns |
| Flight vehicle structures | Characteristics of aircraft structures and materials. Bending, Torsion, and shear of thin-walled sections, Loads of aircraft. |
| Structural Dynamics | Free and forced vibrations of undamped and damped SDOF systems
Free vibrations of undamped 2-DOF systems |
The topics covered by the special topics include the theory of elasticity, the vibration of beams, Airy’s stress function, equilibrium, and compatibility equations.
Section 6:
Propulsions:
The topics included in the propulsions section of the GATE syllabus are as follows:
Basics: Boundary layers, Thermodynamics, Heat transfer, thermochemistry, and combustion
Aerothermodynamics of aircraft engines: Efficiency, Thrust, Brayton cycle, and range.
Engine performance: Afterburners, turboshaft engines, turboprop, turbofan, turbojet, and Ramjet.
Turbomachinery: Angular momentum, work and compression, Axial compressors, the characteristic performance of a single axial compressor stage, the efficiency of the degree of reaction, and the compressor and multi-staging.
Axial Turbines: Stage Performance
Centrifugal Compressor: Diffuser, Stage Dynamics, Inducer, and Impeller
Rockets: Thrust equation and specific impulse, rocket performance; Multi-staging; Chemical rockets; Performance of solid and liquid propellant rockets.
Special topics:
Special topics include the combustor, intakes, nozzles, surge and stall, compressor-turbine matching, and cooling of turbine blades.
Paper pattern
| Paper | Aerospace Engineering |
| Paper Code | AE |
| Examination Mode | Computer-based Test |
| Duration | 3 Hours (180 mins) |
| Type of Questions | (a) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) (b) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) and/or Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions |
| Marking Scheme | Questions carry 1 mark and 2 marks |
| Negative Marking | In MCQs, negative markings will be applied for incorrect answers. Further, for 1-mark MCQ: the 1/3 mark will be deducted for the incorrect answer. Moreover, for a 2-mark MCQ: the 2/3 mark will be deducted for incorrect answers. Besides, there will be no negative markings for MSQ & NAT. |
| Number of Questions | 10 (GA) + 55 (subject) = 65 Questions |
| General Aptitude Marks | 15 marks |
| Subject Marks | 85 marks |
| Total Marks | 100 marks |
85% of the questions are based on the GATE syllabus for aerospace engineering and engineering mathematics. However, the remaining 15% is for General Aptitude. Besides, as per GATE organizers, 90% of the GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus will be basic aeronautical topics and 10% will be specific topics.
Read more: GATE Syllabus 2024, IISC Bangalore GATE Subject Wise Syllabus
FAQs on GATE 2025 Aerospace Engineering Syllabus
Below are the FAQs on the GATE Aerospace engineering syllabus
- What is the GATE syllabus for Aerospace Engineering 2025?
The GATE syllabus for Aerospace Engineering 2025 comprises six sections, like flight mechanics, engineering mathematics, aerodynamics, space dynamics, propulsion, and structures. - What are the special topics included in the GATE syllabus for aerospace engineering’s structures section?
The structures section of the GATE syllabus for aerospace engineering includes special topics including equilibrium and
compatibility equations, elasticity theory, and vibration of beams. - What are the best books to prepare for the GATE Aerospace Syllabus 2025?
The top-recommended books for the GATE Aerospace syllabus 2025 are Introduction to Flight- by John D Anderson and GATE Engineering Mathematics by Abhinav Goel. Some other books recommended are Fundamentals of Aerodynamics by John D Anderson, Marine Propellors and Propulsion by Carlton and Theory of Structures by Ramamrutham.Read more: GATE Preparation Books – Best Books For GATE 2024 - According to the GATE syllabus for Aerospace Engineering 2025, which topics carry the most weight?
As per the GATE syllabus for Aerospace Engineering 2025, the topics with higher weightage are airfoil and wings, engineering mathematics, and basic fluid mechanics. - What is the time frame for preparing for the GATE syllabus for Aerospace Engineering 2025?
The candidate should start preparing for the GATE Aerospace Engineering syllabus four months before the exam. - How is the GATE Aerospace syllabus divided according to the exam?
Every question in the GATE Aerospace Engineering exam 2025 is likely to carry 1 or 2 marks. Meanwhile, the section-wise distribution according to the exam is:
General Aptitude: 15 marks
Aerospace Engineering (AE ) syllabus: 85 marks.
