Materials, Advanced Design
&
Manufacturing
110
Keywords
Flight simulation, aerodynamics, CF, vibration,
aeroelasticity, sensors, impact engineering, structural
dynamics, radar processing, target tracking, missile
guidance and control, computational fluid dynamics,
rotorcraft, wind energy
Expertise
The University of Liverpool undertakes aerospace
research in the areas of flight simulation, handling
qualities and control, aerodynamics, aeroelasticity,
structural dynamics, impact engineering and materials.
The research involves a combination of numerical/analytic
simulation and analysis (virtual engineering), backed up
by experimental and computational facilities.
Flight science and technology
The University has expertise in flight science, aeroelasticity,
structural materials and mechanics. Our extensive
research facilities include full motion flight simulators, a
500
core computational fluid dynamics (CFD) cluster and
structural dynamics, vibration and impact laboratories.
Our high-end flight simulator is considered the most
capable in academia worldwide. It has been used to
support international projects and developments such as
the European civil tilt rotor, flapped rotor systems, safety
cases for wake vortex upsets; and corporate lift systems.
We are currently undertaking research to find ways to
alleviate operational problems at the interface between
aircraft/helicopters and ships. This work makes extensive
use of piloted simulation and CFD.
Our CFD framework runs an in-house code and has
been used to investigate the non-linear aerodynamics
encountered in both fixed wing and rotary wing
operations, including rotor dynamic stall and stall flutter,
vortical flow, transonic cavity flow and fin buffet. Unique
coupled CFD-structural model methods have been
devised for predicting transonic aeroelastic stability and
limit cycles. Our research has been instrumental in the
development of active structures to reduce drag and
gust loads.
Our cross-cutting expertise in risk and uncertainty
evaluation has enabled us to define the uncertainty
bounds of dynamic behaviour using probabilistic,
stochastic and interval methods. This work has improved
aeroelastic tailoring for composite wing design and flight
flutter testing.
Avionic systems
Electronic systems associated with flight are known as
‘
avionics’. Avionics encompasses the internal sensors
and control systems within aircraft – from airborne
communication and navigation systems to ‘stealth’
aircraft design and flight control systems.
The University has expertise in most aspects of avionic
systems – radar and radar processing, aircraft data buses
and data links, airborne imaging systems and target
tracking. We have developed a range of simulation and
processing tools that can be used for airborne radar and
image processing such as image stabilisation, target
tracking, target recognition and ‘smart’ on-focal plane
imaging systems.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Full motion flight simulators
• 512
node computation fluid dynamics (CFD) cluster
•
Structural dynamics, vibration and impact
laboratories
•
Expertise in simulation and numerical modelling
•
Expertise in digital imaging, signal processing and
aviation communication systems.
Liverpool is home to the AgustaWestland-Liverpool
Advanced Rotorcraft Centre (AW-LARC), a
partnership between Liverpool and AgustaWestland,
a multinational manufacturer of helicopters.
University researchers are currently engaged in a
number of projects funded by the company, the
Technology Strategy Board and the EU.
6.3
Aerospace engineering
Also see:
Energy & Sustainability –
1.5
Tidal energy and wind power,
page 73
Materials, Advanced Design &
Manufacturing –
1.1
Virtual engineering, page 83
Risk, Safety & Security –
page 113
For further information
on all our specialist
centres, facilities and
laboratories
go to page
179
