Smith presented her research entitled, "Aerodynamics and Aeroelasticity Methodologies for Future Concepts in Vertical Lift"
Marilyn Smith

Prof. Marilyn Smith
Speaking before the RAeS

Prof. Marilyn J. Smith, director of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLRCOE) was a plenary speaker at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Aerodynamics Tools and Methods in Aircraft Conference, on October 14-15 in London.

The two-day conference was attended by aircraft experts from across the world to discuss state-of-the art theoretical and experimental tools and methods in aircraft design.

Attendees also exchanged ideas on how to accommodate unconventional platforms in light of advances in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multi-disciplinary design optimization (MDO) methods, and wind-tunnel and flight-test capabilities.

Smith’s talk, “Aerodynamics and Aeroelasticity Methodologies for Future Concepts in Vertical Lift” presented current aerodynamic methodologies under development, including high-fidelity computations, dual-solver hybridization, and first-principles-based reduced-order modeling.  Smith pointed out that some of these advanced designs and optimizations will require revolutionary technologies to be integrated into vehicles, such as virtual surfaces from flow control. 

The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) is a multi-disciplinary professional institution headquartered in the United Kingdom, dedicated to the global aerospace community, to further the advancement of aeronautical art, science, and engineering around the world.