AERO-U REU 2006 Highlights

NSF REU Site: AERO-U: Aerospace Engineering Research Opportunities for Undergraduates

The following are the faculty mentors who worked with REU students during the program. The list provides the name, position, degree and research interests of each faculty mentor.

Dr. William Saric, Professor. Ph.D., Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Stewart & Stevenson Professor II in Engineering. Director, Flight Research Laboratory, NAE Member. Wind-tunnel and flight experiments in the areas of boundary-layer stability and transition, laminar flow control, and low-Reynolds-number aerodynamics. Theoretical and computational studies in hydrodynamic stability, nonlinear waves, stratified fluids, and Taylor-Görtler vortices.

Dr. Sharath S. Girimaji, Professor. Ph.D., Cornell. Turbulent and hypersonic flow modeling. Partially-Average Navier-Stokes (PANS) model development. Lattice-Boltzmann methods. Plasma turbulence

Dr. Rodney D. W. Bowersox, Associate Professor. Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Gasdynamics, aerothermochemistry, high-speed and unsteady aerodynamics, aero-propulsion, turbulence modeling, numerical simulations, instrumentation development and wind tunnel design.

Dr. Jacques C. Richard, Senior Lecturer & Research Associate Professor. Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Plasma and gas dynamics computational modeling. Lattice-Boltzmann methods. Spectral element methods. Modeling plasma jets in magnetic fields. Electric propulsion (EP): ion thruster optics plasma flow, Magneto-hydro-dynamics (MHD).

Dr. Adonios Karpetis, Assistant Professor. Ph.D., Princeton. Experimental turbulent combustion and high-speed flow visualization, Microcombustion. Laser Diagnostics.

Dr. Paul Cizmas, Associate Professor. Ph.D., Duke. Unsteady Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer Fluid-solid Interaction. Propulsion. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Massive Parallel Processing.

A.2. Students

The following are some of the students that participated in the AERO-U REU during the Summer 2006 program. The personal information is not shown but they are from different institutions of various gender and ethnicity, major, GPA (>3), expected graduation dates, etc. Sample research titles and abstracts are shown below.

Jason Corman, Youngstown State University. Mechanical Engineering major. Expected graduation. Spring 2008. Research Title: “Boundary Layer Control: Using Magnetic Fields to Control Hypersonic Plasma.” [Drs. Sharath Girimaji and Jacques C. Richard]

Abstract: Theoretical analysis of high velocity plasma flow is being conducted using many different approaches. Using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), this project, in particular, focuses on the boundary layer that forms in high velocity plasma flows over a solid surface, or no slip condition. Discussed in this paper will be a basic summary of boundary layers, along with a proposed method of controlling the plasma boundary layer using a magnetic field. A C++ program has been configured to simulate the plate-flow, modified from two previous LBM codes that analyzed plasma thruster and channel flows. This program allows for certain parameters to be rearranged, testing different velocity, magnetic field, and Reynolds number conditions (among others). Analysis of these tests, along with future applications and research opportunities with the subject will also be discussed.

Figure 1. Jason Corman explaining his poster (a) and plots showing flow near the boundary of a flat plate (b) without any externally applied magnetic field and (c) with a uniformly applied external vertical magnetic field.

Patrick Eberle, Texas A&M University. Aerospace Engineering major. Expected graduation Spring 2008. Research Title: “Turbulent Boundary Layer Flow Over Diamond Shaped Surface Roughness” [Dr. Rodney Bowersox]

Abstract: This paper outlines the analysis of supersonic flow over a periodic diamond shaped roughness. Using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), the boundary layer flow is mapped at two locations on a particular diamond. The possibility of a three dimensional characteristic to the flow is also investigated.

Figure 2. Patrick Eberle explaining his poster (a) and (b) a Schlieren image of shock formation from his experiments.

Nicholas Flores, Texas A&M. Aerospace Engineering major. Expected graduation Spring 2007. Research Title: “Turbulent Boundary Layer Wall Shear Stress Measurement in Flight Test Environment Utilizing Non-Intrusive Sensor” [Dr. William Saric], see http://flight.tamu.edu/.

Abstract: Accurately measuring local wall-shear stress is important in experimental testing. It is necessary that the correct sensor be used for measuring it in laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Currently, there are two general types of sensors. If the sensor is positioned for testing in such a way that it will disrupt the naturally occurring boundary layer it is generally termed an intrusive sensor. Some examples of intrusive sensors are Preston tubes, and hot films. On the other hand, if the sensor is imbedded in the test surface in such away that it simply replaces the removed section of surface, it is known as a non-intrusive sensor. A non-intrusive sensor, assuming that it is properly installed, will not affect the natural boundary layer and is the ideal method for wall-shear stress measurements. A new non-intrusive shear sensor created by Luna Innovations has been designed for use in various environments. Raytheon Company has purchased two of these sensors with particular interests in verifying that the new sensors will accurately measure wall-shear stress and not succumb to a flight test environment. Courtesy of Raytheon Company, the Flight Research Laboratory (FRL) will evaluate the new non-intrusive sensor’s ability to accurately measure wall-shear stress by flight testing the sensor. The validity of the sensor will be determined by comparing the sensor measurements with measurements predicted by theoretical calculations, Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis, and Preston Probe testing.

Figure 3. Nick Flores explaining his poster (a) and (b) a plot of wall-shear stress distribution along the chord of an airfoil.

Ian Kelly-Morgan, University of Oregon. Physics major. Expected graduation Spring 2008. Research Title: “An Algorithm for Numerically Calculating Magnetic Fields in LBM Plasma Flow Simulations.” [Mentor: Dr. Jacques C. Richard]

Abstract: An algorithm for solving a three-dimensional Laplace equation has been developed using finite difference methods. The method is to iterate a set of explicit equations over the computational domain in a series of time steps until convergence is reached. This algorithm is used to calculate magnetic field vectors resulting from changes in current density. Equations are derived from ampere’s law. The goal of this project is to integrate the algorithm into an existing experimental Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) CFD code. This code is used to simulate plasma jet flow, and currently uses magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) approximations to determine effects due to magnetic fields. Our goal is to be able to calculate magnetic fields without making the MHD assumptions, which will allow for inclusion of a broader range of parameters. Focus is

given to laying the framework for future development.

Figure 4. Ian Kelly-Morgan by his poster (a) and (b) a plot of a result from his report showing a magnetic field, found using his finite difference code, surrounding test plasma streams.

Tiffany Williamson, Texas A&M University. Aerospace Engineering major. Expected graduation Spring 2007. Research Title: “Multi-Species Plasma Flow Simulation Using the Lattice-Boltzmann Method.” [Dr. Jacques C. Richard]

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to expand the understanding of hypersonic plasma flows. To do this, a method for analysis of multiple species plasma flows must be developed. Properties that vary with molecular species must be identified and a procedure to account for particle interaction determined. An existing C++ program using the lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) of computation can be modified to take multiple species of fluids into account.

Figure 5. Tiffany Williamson explaining her poster (a) and (b) a plot of the verification that her multi-species modifications of the MHD code could reproduce the single-species uniform channel flow results.

A. Program Participants

A.1. Faculty Mentors

A.2. Students