Publications
See full list of publications by ARC members.Aerospace Engineering Research Centre
The Aerospace Engineering Research Centre (AERC) was established in 2007 and has since made a significant contribution to the research output in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Research focus
Research in the AERC is focussed on the core disciplines of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics. The research expertise covers mainly aerodynamics, propulsion, and aero structures.
Enabling technologies in these areas include: the development of flow modelling techniques; flow diagnostics methods; analysis and testing of composite and metallic wing structures; and development of aeroelastic and structural optimisation methods.
Funding
Research in the AERC is funded by the following:
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Ministry of Defence (MOD)
- U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- European Community
- Airbus UK
- Flight Refuelling Limited
- Alstom Power
- Siemens
- BAE SYSTEMS
- Qinetiq
Further details
- Acoustics
- Aero structures (see also Composites Research Unit)
- Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
- Experimental aerodynamics
- Gas turbine research unit
The AERC has several facilities and modern instrumentation. Main facilities include a water tunnel (38cm x 51cm), two wind tunnels (larger one with a cross-section of 2.1m x 1.5m), autoclave (3 x 1.5m) for composite structures, purpose-built rotating flow rigs, and high performance computing facilities.
The experimental facilities are supported by a wide selection of advanced instrumentation including:
- Systems for force and moment measurements
- Unsteady pressure measurements
- Liquid crystal
- Flow visualisation
- Hot-wire anemometry
- Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV)
- Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA)
- Argon-Ion Laser
- Microphone array system for noise measurements
- Modal analyser
- Fatigue and static testing machines (10kN-2,000kN).
The AERC's academic staff have a number of well recognised publications, international visibility and research income support from the Research Council, industry, and EC. We also have a healthy number of researchers and postgraduate students.
Academic staff
- Professor I Gursul
- Professor JM Owen
- Professor JA Jupp
- Professor GD Lock
- Dr DAS Rees
- Dr R Butler
- Dr SA MacGregor
- Dr M Meo
- Dr M Wilson
- Dr MJ Carley
- Dr HA Kim
- Dr Z Wang
- Dr AT Rhead
Research staff
Postgraduate students
- D Robayo Calderon
- T Hu
- Y Lalwani
- I Mear-Stone
- G Cho
- J Scobie
- Le Wang
- Moustafa Kinawy
- Neil Baker
- Oliver Pountney
- Vicky Hunt
- Kunyuan Zhou
- Biliana Bidin
- Robin Jones
