The transonic Mach number regime is a critical phase in the atmospheric ascent of launch vehicles, where aerodynamic loads peak due to the combined effects of high freestream dynamic pressure and angle of attack. Besides high steady loads, launch vehicles experience very high levels of pressure fluctuations caused by interactions between the unsteady λ-shock system […]

Microwave absorption materials (MAMs) are crucial for both long-standing aeronautical and emerging space security applications, with carbon-based materials traditionally dominating the field due to their exceptional strength and lightweight nature. In recent years, other ceramic-based materials have emerged as promising alternatives, due to their superior resistance to thermal detection, due in turn to their low […]

The quadcopters are increasingly used in cluttered environments as rapid advancements are made in the development of lightweight sensors and payloads. Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) missions,  crack detection on the interior surface of a pipe/tunnel, and close inspection in tropical forest environments are a handful of examples where quadcopters are being deployed. Safe operation in […]

This dissertation focuses on surface preparation and its effect on the shear strength of adhesively bonded Single Lap Joints (SLJs) in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), their fracture properties, and the associated Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) parameters. The surface preparation was carried out using different grades of emery paper so that the interfaces of different roughness […]

Transonic shock buffet, a self-sustained shock oscillation resulting from shock-boundary layer interaction, is observed across a range of operating points on the performance map of a transonic axial flow fan. Shock oscillations impart time-varying air loads on fan blades with the potential of leading to fatigue-induced structural failure. Accurate estimations of shock buffet onset, shock displacement, and […]