Future Transport
Sustainable aviation is the overarching theme of our aerospace research. This is aimed at coupling advanced simulation methods with new design, material and manufacturing processes to improve the physical, environmental and economic performance of future aircraft systems. Research activities span aerodynamics, powerplant, aeroelasticity, aircraft operations, design, analysis & optimisation and structural testing. A major focus of our work is the integration of these disciplines into an overall systems framework.
![CFD simulation of aircraft mid-air refuelling](/schools/media/Media,633423,en.png)
Computational methods for aerodynamic and aeroelastic analysis and design.
Our primary aim is to develop advanced high-fidelity methods for the analysis and design of future aerospace vehicles.
![Detailed CAD model of aircraft fuselage](/schools/media/Media,597009,en.jpg)
Collaborative simulation tools and advanced virtual environments for optimal product / process design.
Improved design concurrency for digital manufacture, assembly validation and through life performance.
![Global visualisation of future air traffic hubs](/schools/media/Media,631206,en.jpg)
Air traffic management and systems integration
Meeting the safety and efficiency needs needs of 21st century air traffic expansion.
![Experimental testing aparatus](/schools/media/Media,630810,en.jpg)
Experimental and numerical static strength analysis of aircraft wing and fuselage structures
Design and validation of novel geometric, material systems and manufacturing solutions
![Dr Adrian Murphy](/schools/media/Media,616238,en.jpg)
Aircraft structural design and analysis, manufacture and cost modelling
View Pure Profile![](/schools/media/Media,926648,smxx-400x400.png)
![](/schools/media/Media,926648,smxx-400x400.png)
![Lecturer Damian Quinn](/schools/media/Media,631524,en.jpg)
Aircraft structural design-for-manufacture and optimisation, virtual testing of aero-structures
View Pure Profile![Dr Danielle Soban](/schools/media/Media,616269,en.jpg)
Advanced aircraft design methods, systems engineering, aircraft value driven design
View Pure Profile![Dr Gasser Abdelal](/schools/media/Media,633070,en.jpg)
Aircraft manufacturing simulation, multi-scale and multi-physics simulation
View Pure Profile![Dr Joe Butterfield](/schools/media/Media,616233,en.jpg)
Virtual aircraft manufacture and assembly, through life engineering
View Pure Profile![Dr Juliana Early](/schools/media/Media,793463,en-400x400.jpg)
Aerodynamic analysis and optimisation, aircraft operations, cost-benefit analysis
View Pure Profile![](/schools/media/Media,926648,smxx-400x400.png)
![Dr Yan Jin](/schools/media/Media,630955,en.jpg)
Automated aircraft assembly, digital lean manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing
View Pure Profile![Dr Trevor Robinson](/schools/media/Media,616253,en.jpg)
Design-simulation integration, finite element modelling, adjoint optimisation methods
View Pure Profile![](/schools/media/Media,926648,smxx-400x400.png)