The aerodynamic performance of high-speed flight systems may be influenced by the condition of the vehicle surface, resulting in potential changes to control surface effectiveness, flowpath performance, and overall drag. Since the structural components of these vehicles will experience extreme thermal/mechanical/acoustic loading, understanding the aerodynamic sensitivity to structural deformation and damage is critical to accurately predicting vehicle performance. This research is focused on improving our knowledge of high-speed aerodynamic behavior over irregular surfaces through experimental exploration, including deformation induced by aeroelastic and aerothermoelastic behavior. Insight is sought into the energy exchange mechanisms between deforming surfaces (e.g. panel flutter) and the surrounding flowfield, with the ultimate goal of identifying the sensitivity of the supersonic fluid dynamics to surface motion. An AFRL-operated 12”x12” variable-Mach number (1.5 to 5.0) wind tunnel is available to address these challenges, along with a suite of non-intrusive and high-speed measurement techniques. In-house diagnostics include (but aren’t limited to) tomographic particle image velocimetry (PIV), pressure sensitive paint (PSP), high-speed schlieren imaging, and kHz-rate digital image correlation (DIC). Lab space is available for further development of advanced diagnostics, as well as benchtop evaluation of novel test techniques.

PA Case number AFRL-2020-0475

key words

High-speed flows; Boundary layer; Fluid dynamics; Surface deformation; Advanced laser diagnostics; Turbulence; Structures; Aeroelasticity; Flutter; Fluid-structure interactions

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants