AERO 590 Projects
Aerospace direct study courses (AEROSP 590)
Aerospace 590 is a directed study course, where a student is able to get one-on-one training with an individual faculty member. Below is a list of some of our Aero 590 offerings with specific faculty. Current students are also encouraged to submit proposals to faculty.
Advanced propulsion system modeling and controls
Faculty mentor: Professor Ilya Kolmanovsky
Prerequisites: Familiarity with Matlab / Simulink, classical controls, experience with physical system modeling. Background in aircraft performance and propulsion system modeling is useful but not required.
Project description: The research activity involves literature search, defining an advanced propulsion system for a small aircraft, analyzing its properties, developing a control-oriented model in Matlab-Simulink and developing transient controls to deliver output power with best fuel efficiency. A specific example of an on-going 590 project in Winter of 2011 involves a hybrid propulsion system based on a direct methanol fuel cell combined with lithium-polymer battery. The expected outcome is a written report documenting the completed research.
Expected Time Commitment: 9 hours/week (3 credits)
Aircraft Conceptual Design Using Gradient-Based Optimization
Faculty mentor: Professor Joaquim R. R. A. Martins
Prerequisites: AE481 Aircraft Design or equivalent. Good programming skills. Knowledge of or willing to learn Python and compiling C/C++.
Project description: This project consists in using an aircraft conceptual design toolbox in conjunction with several optimization algorithms to explore optimal aircraft designs with respect to cost, fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions. The work involves setting up optimization problems, solving them and interpreting the results.
Expected Time Commitment: TBD
Computation of Hypersonic Flow
Faculty mentor: Professor Iain D. Boyd
Prerequisites: AE 523 (CFD). Knowledge of linux and C++.
Project description: Computation of flows around hypersonic vehicles using simulation tools developed in Boyd’s group
including phenomena such as chemistry, radiation and ablation.
Expected Time Commitment: TBD
Aerodynamic Analysis of X-HALE
Faculty mentor: Professor Carlos E. S. Cesnik
Prerequisites: AE325 Aerodynamics or equivalent; AE544 Aeroelastiicity or equivalent is highly desirable but not required. Good programming skills, primarily Fortran. Knowledge of or willingness to learn AVL and PMARC.
Project description: This project involves performing steady (AVL) and unsteady (PMARC) analyses of X-HALE configurations, a nonlinear aeroelastic testbed being developed at the Active Aeroelasticity and Structures Research Laboratory. The study will start by characterizing the linearized aerodynamic properties of the aircraft and assess the effect of the downwash on the horizontal tails. Unsteady aerodynamic simulation will follow.
Expected Time Commitment: 9 hours/week (3 credits)