Current Aerospace Engineering Research Activities
Compiled Fall 2001

Dr. Klaus Hoffmann has several research activities related to development and application of CFD that are on-going. The specific topics include the following:

• Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). Investigation of the effect of magnetic field on high speed flows.

• Turbulent flows. Development and modification of turbulence models to improve prediction capabilities of supersonic turbulent flows.

• Boundary conditions. Development of high order boundary conditions for CAA and CFD applications. Chemistry effect. Investigation of chemically reacting flows.

• Flow control. Investigation of innovative schemes for flow control.

• Large Eddy Simulation. Development of CFD schemes for LES of high speed flows.

Dr. Thomas Lacy is currently pursuing research activities in the following general areas of solid mechanics and advanced composite materials:

Composite Materials research activities include Impact Damage Tolerance/ Resistance of Sandwich Composites (along with aerospace engineering colleague Dr. John Tomblin), and Numerical Modeling of Impact Damaged Sandwich Composites, Fatigue and Fracture investigations of the Fail Safety Assessment and Retro-Fit of the Boeing KC-135 Transport Aircraft, and Experimental Determination of Critical Crack Tip Opening Angles for Thin Gauge Aluminum Alloys. Current computational efforts include implementation of cutting edge non-linear fracture mechanics software on the 24-processor SGI Origin 2000 supercomputer housed in the High Performance Computing Center at WSU. Current funding for these research activities has been obtained from the FAA, Boeing, and NIAR.

Dr. James Locke has research interests in structural dynamics, smart structures, and aircraft loads. Current externally funded research activities include the following: Data and Methodologies for Structural Life Evaluation of Small Airplanes, sponsored by the FAA; Loads Analysis Enhancements for Small Airplanes, sponsored by the FAA; and Design and Manufacturing of Bend-Twist Coupled Wind Turbine Blades, sponsored by Sandia Research Laboratories.
Several non-funded research activities are also being pursued. These include the following: Gust Loads Alleviation for a High-Altitude UAV, Basis Vectors and Modal Equations for Aeroelastic Gust Loads Analysis, Reduced Order Models for Large Structural Dynamic Systems, Decoupling Structural Dynamic Subsystem Models from Full System Models, Finite Element Hierarchic Sine Series Shape Functions, Exact Finite Element Shape Functions for Tapered Bars and Beams.

Dr. L.Scott Miller is involved in the following research programs:
Impact of Aircraft Operation on Composite Airframe Temperatures - The objective of the investigation is to experimentally measure the impact of convective cooling on composite aircraft structures, as a result of aircraft operations. Results will be compared to theoretical predictions and used to enhance tool development for aircraft design.
WSU Beech Memorial Wind Tunnel Upgrades - A program to improve the University's 7 x10 ft Low Speed Wind Tunnel performance is underway, as a result of FAA funding. Customers will benefit from improvements in speed, operational temperature, flow quality, and measurement quality.
Improved Propeller Design and Analysis for Low-Reynolds Number Applications - An optimized inverse design tool, with specific application to small low-speed aircraft propellers, is under development. An experimental component is planned to provide validation and refinement.
Wind Tunnel Testing of Automobiles Subject to Tornado-Like Winds - A continuing experimental investigation to evaluate automobile occupant safety during tornado encounters.
Wind Energy - An ongoing effort in the areas of wind turbine performance prediction tool development, wind tunnel and atmospheric testing, and public education continues at WSU.

Dr. Roy Myose and his graduate students are pursuing research in the experimental aerodynamics topics of delta wing vortex dynamics and cascade aerodynamics. Dr. Myose is also working with Dr. Bert Smith in multiple site damage within the solid mechanics area of damage tolerance.

Dr. Gawad Nagati has initiated research efforts to validate an algorithm for automatic recovery from a spin. The process consists of the following steps: acquisition of hardware and software,construction of an "iron bird" to check out the control system in a bench test, installation and checking of the I/O boards to be used, data input for simulation, perform simulation to assist in determining required inertia properties, construction of scaled aircraft model, and flight testing.
Both projects are in collaboration with Dr. Jim Steck,(Aerospace Engineering) who will head-up the neural networks developments

Dr.Michael Papadakis has a large array of research programs in progress at this time, including a large number that are supported by external sponsors. The following is a snap-shot of his current research portfolio:
Hot Air Anti-icing Research Program (2000-2002; ADMRC; $136,000) - This is a research program to improve the performance of hot bleed air anti-icing systems.
Pilot Simulator Training for Aircraft Icing Effects(1998-2002: NASA; $1,014,325) - The purpose of this program is to provide pilots with a ground-based training facility, which will provide realistic simulation of in-flight icing encounters. The work will lead to the development of a robust simulation methodology
Tailplane Icing Program II (1998-2002; NASA; $478,712 ) - This is a collaborative effort between NASA, WSU and the Bombardier/Learjet Company to improve the understanding of icing effects on tailplane aerodynamic performance and handling qualities.
Water Droplet Impingement Program Phase II (1995-2002; NASA; $783,590) - This research program is a long-term effort for developing experimental methodologies, data reduction methods, and an extensive database of water droplet impingement for a range of aircraft surfaces to assist in the testing and certification of ice protection systems and to improve the design of ice protection systems.
Non Hot-air Ice Protection Systems(2001; ADMRC; $45,000) - The objective of this program is to evaluate a range of de-icing systems for general aviation aircraft applications and to explore potential new methods for ice protection system development.
Effect of Critical Ice Shapes on Finite Wing Geometries (2000 - 2002; FAA; $600,000) - The critical ice accretion (CIA) program is systematic research effort which will address the effects of a range of ice shapes on the aerodynamic performance and handling qualities of a finite wing.
Experimental Study of SLD Impingement Effects (2000 - 2002; FAA; $300,000) - The objective of this research program is to develop experimental methodologies for investigating and measuring super-cooled large droplets (SLD) impingement, including investigation of droplet splashing and break-up.
Effect of Ice Shapes on the Aerodynamic Performance and Hinge Moments of an NLF 0414 Airfoil with 25% c Simple Flap (1997 - 2001; NASA AGATE; $173,500) - Natural laminar flow airfoils were developed to reduce cruise drag, but they represent problems for ice protection systems because of their required surface tolerances. In this program the aerodynamic ice accretions was evaluated for a natural laminar flow airfoil in a dry air wind tunnel facility.
Development of Computational Aeroacoustics Techniques with Applications to Propeller Noise(1997 - 2001; NASA; $439,620) - This is an extensive research effort to develop advanced simulation tools for predicting the near and far field acoustic signature of helicopter rotors and aircraft propellers. The simulation methodology is based on techniques similar to those applied in computational fluid dynamics.
Development of Computational Electromagnetics for Solving Scattering, Radiation and Electromagnetic Environmental Problems (1998 - 2001; DOD; $364,427) - The objective of this program is the development of computational methodologies for the prediction of aircraft radar cross section signature.
Simulated Ice Flight Tests on a Sikorsky Helicopter (2001-2003; Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.; $55,000) - A collaborative effort between Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, the U.S Government and WSU to develop simulated ice techniques and to validate these techniques for use on the S-92 helicopter certification program.
Effect of Mixed Phase Icing Conditions on Thermal Ice Protection Systems (2000 - 2002; FAA; $170,000) - The main objective of this research program is to apply and/or develop experimental methodologies for investigating and evaluating the effect of mixed phase icing conditions on thermal ice protection systems.
Aerodynamic Scaling Experiments with Simulated Ice Accretions - A comprehensive experimental investigation with a range of airfoil scales and simulated ice accretions to evaluate the effects of Reynolds number and ice shape geometric scaling on aerodynamic performance.
Aerodynamic Performance Evaluation of Iced Aircraft Configurations using Computational Fluid Dynamics - An extensive computational investigation to evaluate the aerodynamic performance degradation of airfoils and wings due to various forms of ice accretions.
Computational and Experimental Investigation of Wind Tunnel Wall Effects - The aim of this ongoing investigation is to use experimental and computational tools to enhance the understanding of tunnel wall effects on the flow field about large and small wing models.
WSU 7-ft by 10-ft Wind Tunnel Upgrades - An ongoing effort that started in 2001 to enhance the WSU wind tunnel facility through improvements to tunnel operational conditions, tunnel instrumentation, operational procedures, and customer service.
Ice Adhesion Experiments - An experimental program to study the adhesion strength of static ice to metallic surfaces and to investigate the effects of surface roughness, surface contamination, and water purity on the shear strength of ice adhesion.
Experimental Investigation of Flow Separation over 2D Airfoils with Glaze and Spoiler Ice Shapes - An experimental program to study the basic flow behavior such as shear layers and vortex structures downstream of large ice accretions.

Dr. Kamran Rokhsaz has initiated a comprehensive research program to understand and control the behavior of Aircraft Wake Vortices. This activity consists of theoretical and experimental investigation of all aspects of the behavior of longitudinal vortex filaments typical of those generated by aircraft wingtips. Experimental efforts, centered on tests performed in a water tunnel, have resulted in the development of a unique data acquisition technique. This method has been used for quantitative measurement of the time dependent motion of these filaments in space. Theoretical work has resulted in new findings that have been validated experimentally.

Dr. Bert Smith has research interests in damage tolerance and composite structure. Current research activities include the following:
Residual Strength of Aluminum Panels with Multiple Site Damage (with Dr. Roy Myose), a multi-year project in the final stages which has been funded by the Advanced Design and Manufacturing Center of the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University.
Damage Tolerance and Damage Resistance of Composite Structure (with Dr. John Tomblin), a multi-year project funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Undergraduate Research Education in Composite Materials (with Dr. C. Yang), a multi-year project funded by the National Science Foundation. This grant provides funding for 10 undergraduate students each year to have a supervised research experience in composite materials.

Dr. Jim Steck and Dr. Steve Skinner (Electrical Engineering) are co-principal investigators of an ADMRC funded project to develop a low cost reliable optical ice detector for aircraft to warn pilots of ice accumulation. This will be installed in the aircraft wing leading edge.

Dr. Steck is participating in numerous collaborative research programs with colleague throughout the university. He has joined with Elizabeth Behrman (Physics) to conduct an NSF funded project investigating Intelligent Quantum Computing as Quantum Artificial Neural Networks. He and Dr. Skinner (EE) have also teamed to conduct a university-funded project to develop an All Optical Switching for Internet Communication Using Nematic Liquid Crystal Technology. He and Dr. Nagati (AE) are just getting involved in a project for Intelligent Control of Aircraft Spins. Dr. Steck has also teamed with Drs Janet Twomey (IE), Steve Skinner (EE), and Elaine Bernstorf (Music) in an ongoing project (previously funded) using EEG signals, brain waves, to play a musical instrument. He has teamed with Dean Roush (Music) on an unfunded project to intelligently tune an electronic synthesizer muscial instrument while it is being played. A novel project that he is working on is a privately funded consulting project to build a musical instrument out of plastic drain pipes.

Dr. John Tomblin has a number of research programs in advanced composite materials. These include the following:
FAA AACE Damage Tolerance of Composite Airframe Structures - This investigation focuses on the damage resistance and tolerance characteristics of sandwich structures. Experimental findings will be used for developing and validating a semi-empirical model to predict the damage resistance and tolerance capabilities for a given sandwich panel configuration.
FAA AACE Adhesive Behavior in Aircraft Applications - This investigation will address various certification-related issues that arise in the applications of adhesive joining, such as: large bond layer thicknesses, removable peel ply, test methods for characterization of adhesives, stress analysis methods and failure criteria for design of adhesive joints, bondline thickness variation, environmental effects of low temperature cure adhesive, damage tolerance of bonded components, fatigue of thick bondline joint, and effects of creep on thick bondline joints.
FAA AACE Bonded Repair of Composite Airframe Components - The objective is to characterize the effects of several bonded repair variables and the strength of the repairs using various experimental methods to determine the effectiveness of the repair.
AGATE Composite Material Database - A major goal of the AGATE advanced materials program is to produce FAA approved certification methods for the use of composite materials within the general aviation community..
AGATE Methodology for Notched and Unnotched Design Allowables - The objective of this research is to produce data regarding the notched and unnotched allowables for selected material systems.
AGATE Material Equivalence Methodology - The objective is to develop a reduced testing methodology for a composite material system that has an pre-existing design allowable database.
AGATE Manufacturing Integration Document - This document will be a compilation of all that has been learned over the past six years in AGATE-sponsored research into general aviation manufacturing methods.
Effects of Manufacturing Defects - The scope of the ongoing effort is to provide Boeing with experimental facilities and personnel to perform structural testing and characterization to establish the effects of manufacturing defects on the static and fatigue strength of nacelle honeycomb core sandwich structures.
Impact of Aircraft Operation on Composite Airframe Temperatures - The objective is to experimentally measure the impact of convective cooling on composite aircraft structures, as a result of aircraft operations and flight.