Fluid-thermal-structural interactions on high-speed aerospace vehicles. Sixteen years after the retirement of Concorde, high-speed commercial flight is once again on the rise with the development of new supersonic business jets and small airliners as well as hypersonic transport and reusable space launch systems. Robust and efficient designs for these light-weight vehicles must address the problem of aerodynamic heating and its effect on structural performance and lifing. This project will desig ....Fluid-thermal-structural interactions on high-speed aerospace vehicles. Sixteen years after the retirement of Concorde, high-speed commercial flight is once again on the rise with the development of new supersonic business jets and small airliners as well as hypersonic transport and reusable space launch systems. Robust and efficient designs for these light-weight vehicles must address the problem of aerodynamic heating and its effect on structural performance and lifing. This project will design and perform first-of-kind experiments that reproduce the complex fluid-thermal-structural interactions representative of those experienced by these aircraft and rockets. We will then use these measurements to assess, validate and improve the current state-of-the-art of simulation and modelling approaches for design.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