Intriguing aerodynamics of bees, hoverflies and beyond. Nature observers have long been fascinated by the elegance, agility and endurance of flying insects, but still human-engineered vehicles fail to match their performance. This project aims to reveal the key physical aspects that allow two different insects to fly so well and thus unlock greater performance for flapping flight vehicles beyond insects.
Design and development of an innovative next generation wind driven rotating ventilator. With increasing environmental awareness, the demand for a wind-driven rotating ventilator for natural ventilation in dwellings, factories and transport vehicles is rising dramatically. This device requires no expenditure to operate or maintain and is pollution-free. However, significant safety concerns for its operation in high wind and rain remain. This project will facilitate a greater understanding of the ....Design and development of an innovative next generation wind driven rotating ventilator. With increasing environmental awareness, the demand for a wind-driven rotating ventilator for natural ventilation in dwellings, factories and transport vehicles is rising dramatically. This device requires no expenditure to operate or maintain and is pollution-free. However, significant safety concerns for its operation in high wind and rain remain. This project will facilitate a greater understanding of the complex flow phenomenon and produce innovative aerodynamic and smart solutions. The outcomes will establish Australia as the leading provider of air quality and comfort in the world, benefit particularly the rural sector and have significant positive impact on the national economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accu ....Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accurate prediction of the behaviour and lifetime of structural components subject to these fluid-structural interactions, in which the deformation of the structure induced by the local flow field, can in turn influence this flow field. This coupling can result in damage or even catastrophic structural failure and thus robust design tools must be developed to avoid this.Read moreRead less
Active and Passive Techniques of Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction Control. The shock wave/ boundary layer interaction (SBLI) is a formidable problem in high-speed aerodynamics. We investigate a novel method, using piezoelectric flap actuators to control the interaction. The aim is to participate in an experimental programme on SBLI control using longitudinal slots at The University of Cambridge's Engineering Department, a leading international institution for SBLI control. Their longitudina ....Active and Passive Techniques of Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interaction Control. The shock wave/ boundary layer interaction (SBLI) is a formidable problem in high-speed aerodynamics. We investigate a novel method, using piezoelectric flap actuators to control the interaction. The aim is to participate in an experimental programme on SBLI control using longitudinal slots at The University of Cambridge's Engineering Department, a leading international institution for SBLI control. Their longitudinal slot control is very similar to unimorph control so that this research can be used to improve the understanding of unimorph control. Furthermore, their CFD program can validate our past work and allow theoretical optimisation to create a smart flap system.Read moreRead less
Acoustic loads on hypersonic engines. This project aims to understand how acoustic loads are generated in supersonic combustion ramjets (scramjets) to control sonic fatigue in reusable hypersonic vehicles. This knowledge could make space access affordable. This project will measure acoustic waves in scramjets. The anticipated discoveries will enable reusable, hypersonic vehicles to be used for space launch systems and high-speed aircraft. These systems will dramatically reduce the cost of space ....Acoustic loads on hypersonic engines. This project aims to understand how acoustic loads are generated in supersonic combustion ramjets (scramjets) to control sonic fatigue in reusable hypersonic vehicles. This knowledge could make space access affordable. This project will measure acoustic waves in scramjets. The anticipated discoveries will enable reusable, hypersonic vehicles to be used for space launch systems and high-speed aircraft. These systems will dramatically reduce the cost of space launch and global travel times. Expected benefits include reduced cost for access to space and the ability to design and develop advanced aerospace technology.Read moreRead less
Rarefied hypervelocity separated flow in the transitional to continuum regimes. The transition regime for low-density flows is a no-man's-land between free-molecular and continuum flow, where the flow behaves differently to the assumptions typically used for modelling either flow type. Bird's direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is typically thought to be the best way of modelling these flows, but has not produced excellent agreement with previous experiments on low-density separated flow ....Rarefied hypervelocity separated flow in the transitional to continuum regimes. The transition regime for low-density flows is a no-man's-land between free-molecular and continuum flow, where the flow behaves differently to the assumptions typically used for modelling either flow type. Bird's direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is typically thought to be the best way of modelling these flows, but has not produced excellent agreement with previous experiments on low-density separated flows, due to computational limitations and lack of knowledge of the flow's internal energy. This proposal is a blind test of the best current DSMC codes against our experiments and a hypersonic continuum code, with the full internal energy state of the flow experimentally quantified for the first time.Read moreRead less
Physics of Base Flows of Planetary Entry Configurations. Continued investment by Australia in the AHI will help to maintain Australia's leading role in the exciting fields of space research and hypersonics and to encourage future international collaboration. The research will use the unique existing experimental infrastructure (largely ARC funded) for space related research, which will enable Australia to make a valuable contribution to the design of future planetary missions. The project will p ....Physics of Base Flows of Planetary Entry Configurations. Continued investment by Australia in the AHI will help to maintain Australia's leading role in the exciting fields of space research and hypersonics and to encourage future international collaboration. The research will use the unique existing experimental infrastructure (largely ARC funded) for space related research, which will enable Australia to make a valuable contribution to the design of future planetary missions. The project will provide a stimulating, exciting and supportive environment for the training of postgraduate and postdoctoral personnel as well as students at the undergraduate level. It will help to motivate young Australians to pursue their interest in science and engineering.Read moreRead less
Ablative thermal protection systems. The project will study ablative reentry heat shields by experiments simulating hypervelocity atmospheric flight. The results will enable the design of the advanced spacecraft which are needed to extend mans exploration of the universe. Data will be validated by comparison with flights such as the Japanese Hayabusa asteroid sample return mission.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100194
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Optical diagnostics for the investigation of high-speed energetic processes. Optical diagnostics for the investigation of high-speed energetic processes:
The project seeks to establish equipment to enable the investigation of high-speed energetic processes. Such processes, where large amounts of energy are released over a short time frame, occur in nature and almost every field of science and engineering, and their investigation is a formidable challenge. This challenge is designed to be met th ....Optical diagnostics for the investigation of high-speed energetic processes. Optical diagnostics for the investigation of high-speed energetic processes:
The project seeks to establish equipment to enable the investigation of high-speed energetic processes. Such processes, where large amounts of energy are released over a short time frame, occur in nature and almost every field of science and engineering, and their investigation is a formidable challenge. This challenge is designed to be met through the combined use of state-of-the-art flow visualisation, thermography and spectrometry equipment. These diagnostics would open avenues into so far impossible or difficult to conduct research on highly transient phenomena in various research fields, which include various aspects of fluid mechanics, combustion, and fracture mechanics. The equipment would be instrumental in the design of better and innovative machines, materials, instruments and processes.Read moreRead less