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Lyle N. Long (Aerospace Engineering)
Dennis K. McLaughlin (Aerospace Engineering)
Philip J. Morris (Aerospace Engineering)
Kenneth S. Brentner (Aerospace Engineering)
Victor Sparrow (Acoustics)
Thomas Scheidegger
Activities in aeroacoustics involve experimental, computational, and analytical studies. Projects include the following:
Robert G. Melton
David Spencer
Joseph Horn
Anthony K. Amos (retired)
Activities in the area of Dynamics and Control are focused primarily on the natural and forced dynamics and the control of aerospace vehicles, and include research in the following areas:
Astrodynamics
Spacecraft Dynamics and Controls
Trajectory Optimization
Orbital Debris Dynamics and Collision Risk Mitigation
Precision Orbit Determination
Advanced Space Mission Planning and Analysis
High-Powered Rocketry
Faculty Dennis K. McLaughlin Research ActivitiesResearch activities in the area of experimental fluid dynamics are conducted in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and the Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel. The research activities include gasdynamics, aero-and-hydroacoustics, hydrodynamic stability, cavitation, and unsteady flow control. Current projects include the following:
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Mark D. Maughmer
Joseph Horn
Barnes W. McCormick (Emeritus)
Hubert C. Smith (Emeritus)
Research activities in the area of flight science and vehicle dynamics are varied. Current topics of interest include airfoil design and analysis, low Reynolds number aerodynamics, aircraft drag reduction through flight testing, wing/fuselage interference, planform optimization for induced drag minimization, force and moment prediction for aircraft flight control, dynamic stall, helicopter tail rotor and aerodynamics, and helicopter rotor blade/airframe interference.
Flight Vehicle Aerodynamics
Aircraft Stability and Control
Aircraft Operations
Flight Mechanics
V/STOL Aircraft
Aircraft Design
Edward C. Smith, co-director (Aerospace Engineering)
Lyle N. Long, co-director (Aerospace Engineering)
Al Lemanski, associate director (Applied Research Laboratory)
Kon-Well Wang, associate director (Mechanical Engineering)
Farhan Gandhi (Aerospace Engineering)
Joseph Horn (Aerospace Engineering)
Gary Koopmann (Mechanical Engineering)
George Lesieutre (Aerospace Engineering)
Mark D. Maughmer (Aerospace Engineering)
Cengiz Camci (Aerospace Engineering)
Barnes McCormick (Aerospace Engineering)
Dennis McLaughlin (Aerospace Engineering)
Philip Morris (Aerospace Engineering)
Mark Schulz (NCA&T)
Activities in the Rotorcraft Engineering Program involve research and development in many key areas of rotocraft. More information on Rotorcraft activities can be found at the RCOE website Projects include the following:
FacultyGeorge A. Lesieutre Research ActivitiesThe Structural Dynamics/ Structures and Materials Program is one of two closely-related graduate programs offered by the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Penn State, emphasizing education in classical structural mechanics and modern composite materials. An interdepartmental Composites Manufacturing Technology Center serves as the focal point for related research. Current and proposed research activities in the area of aerospace structures and materials are driven by aerospace vehicle requirements and encompass experimental, analytical and computational investigations of the mechanical behavior of advanced composite structures. Ongoing work is addressing the effects of the mechanical couplings inherent in unbalanced and unsymmetric composites on various aspects of structural behavior, including buckling, post- buckling, and vibration. The impact of automated manufacturing techniques such as braiding, pultrusion, and filament winding on composite mechanical properties is also under investigation. In the area of smart structures, studies are addressing the application of embedded optical fibers and piezoelectric films in advanced composite materials for deflection sensing, damage detection, health monitoring, and vibration control. SpecializationsAdvanced Composite Materials |
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FacultyMichael M. Micci Research ActivitiesResearch is being conducted in a number of areas relevant to space propulsion. In the area of chemical propulsion, experimental research characterizing the unsteady combustion behavior of solid and liquid propellant by means of advanced diagnostics is ongoing. These measurements provide important input into the prediction of rocket chamber combustion stability. In advanced space propulsion, both experimental and analytical research into microwave-heated propulsion is being conducted. Gases are heated to plasma temperatures where optical diagnostics are used to evaluate and optimize performance. Space mission studies are done to compare various thruster concepts. An experimental program examining low Reynolds number nozzles, such as those found on spacecraft thrusters, has been initiated. All experimental facilities for research in space propulsion are located in and are operated in conjunction with the NASA Center for Space Propulsion Engineering located at the University Park Campus. Specializations Chemical rocket propulsion |
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FacultyResearch ActivitiesResearch in the area of turbomachinery and air breathing propulsion includes a wide spectrum of activities with aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, spacecraft, marine and automotive applications. Basic research is related to steady and unsteady aerodynamics, heat transfer, computational fluid dynamics, measurement techniques and sensor development in these areas. Several graduate courses in the area of fluid dynamics, heat transfer, turbomachinery theory and design, computation of turbomachinery flows, computational fluid dynamics, etc., provide an excellent background for research. Past and current sponsors include NASA, NSF, ARO, ONR, Rolls Royce-Allison, General Motors, CFDRC, DOE/AGTSR, Solar Turbines Inc., United Technologies Pratt&Whitney. Current projects and topics include the following: MEASUREMENT
COMPUTATION
ANALYSIS
SpecializationsComputation and Measurement |
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In addition to research programs offered by the Department of Aerospace Engineering, there are a multitude of centers and institutes to which a student may belong. Department supported centers are the Institute for High Performance Computer Applications (IHPCA), the Rotocraft Center of Excellence, the Center for Acoustics and Vibration , the Propulsion Engineering Research Center at Penn State, and the Center for Gas Turbines & Power.
DESCRIPTION
This Institute was established in 1995 by the College of Engineering. it is an interdisciplinary institute that promotes the use of high performance computers in education and research. The organization was established in consultation with the Colleges of Science and Earth and Mineral Sciences, the Center for Academic Computing and the Applied Research Laboratory. The education emphasis on the Institute is the training of students in the practical use of high performance computers. An interdisciplinary graduate minor in high performance computing is being established and graduate coursework has been developed. The research activities of faculty affiliated with the Institute includes acoustics and fluid mechanics in engineering, computational chemistry, and global climate modeling. The Institute has helped to establish a UNIX-based computer classromms and has also been instrumental in the acquisition of high performance computers for research and instruction.
CONTACTS
Dr. Lyle N. Long
Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications
Dr. Philip J. Morris
Associate Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications
Dr. Paul Plassman (Computer Science)
Associate Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications
Dr. Jim Anderson (Chemistry)
Associate Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications
DESCRIPTION
The Penn State Rotorcraft Center of Excellence is one of three university research centers in the country which focuses on technical problems specific to rotary-wing aircraft. It is funded by the National Rotorcraft Technology Center (NRTC), an organization consisting of Army, NASA, and industry representatives such as Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing Helicopters. The Penn State Rotorcraft Center involves facilities, faculty and students from the Departments of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Egnineering Science and Mechanics.
Rotorcraft Center Research thrusts include rotor and vehicle dynamics, composite and smart structures, cabin noise, rotor noise, rotor aerodynamics, and drivetrain technologies. In addition to core NRTC support, many Rotorcraft Center research projects are supported directly by industry, US Army, and US Navy agencies. Rotorcraft Fellowships are available to provide additional finanical support for ourstanding graduate students.
CONTACTS
Dr. Edward C. Smith
Co-Director, Rotorcraft Center of Excellence
Dr. Lyle N. Long
Co-Director, Rotorcraft Center of Excelence
DESCRIPTION
This Center was recently established at Penn State by combining existing programs in the College of Engineering and the Applied Research Laboratory. Acoustics and vibration engineering is concerned with sound in the broad sense, including all frequencies and all types of mechniical wave phenomena and vibrations within gases, solids and liquids. The principal research interests of the Center for Acoustics and Vibration (CAV) are those that can be identified as high-tech and, moreover, those that are either under development or that are still in the embryo stage. Those that fall into this classification can be referred to as "emerging acoustical and vibration technologies".
The center is concerned with research in eight major areas, i.e. Active Control, Aero/Hydro Acoustics, materials Evaluation, Particulate and Chemical Acoustics, Propagation and Radiation, Smart Materials, Structural Acoustics, Vibrations and Machinery Noise.
The Center involves facilities and faculty from Aerospace, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechanics, and the Applied Research Laboratory.
CONTACTS
Dr. Gary H. Koopmann
Director, Center for Acoustics and Vibration
Dr. George A. Lesieutre
Associate Director, Center for Acoustics and Vibration
DESCRIPTION
With the support and guidance of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Penn State has established a Center for Space Propulsion Engineering Research. This is the result of a long history of a commitment to excellence in space-rel ated engineering research and education. Its mission is to enhance and broaden the capabilities of America's engineering community to meet the needs of the expanding space program.
The Center focuses on five major areas of research: Chemical Propulsion, Electric/Nuclear Propulsion, Advanced Propulsion Concepts, Diagnostics, Materials. It is housed primarily in the Departments of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science and Mechanics in the College of Engineering, with additional programs in other Engineering departments as well as in the Colleges of Science and Earth and Mineral Science.
Financial support for graduate work is available through either NASA Traineeships or Research Assistantships. NASA trainees receive stipends plus tuition and fees. Stipends for assistantships are competitive. Students involved in Center activities h ave an opportunity for direct interaction with NASA installations.
CONTACTS
Professor Robert J. Santoro
Director
Propulsion Engineering Research Center
Research Building East
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
(814)863-NASA
FAX Number: (814)865-3389
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