Research Fellow Aerodynamics & Flight Mechanics Group

Location: Highfield Campus

Salary:  £29,301 to £31,076 per annum

Full Time Fixed Term (for 1 year)

Closing Date:  Sunday 13 November 2016

Interview Date:  To be confirmed

Reference: 793216AK

Research Fellow, Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Research Group

We are looking for a Research Fellow to work on computational aerodynamics and aeroelasticity as part of an EPSRC research project with Airbus Operations Ltd as project partner.

The project will develop new methods and tools to design a new generation of transport aircraft that take advantage of wing flexibility to improve the global aircraft efficiency. The project is specifically developed around a long-standing industrial challenge: assessing the impact of aerodynamic changes on the structural loads used for structural sizing of aircraft components is an expensive process (from several weeks when low-order methods are employed, to several months when employing higher-fidelity methods). Generally, the computing cost of an aeroelastic analysis is largely dominated by the aerodynamic analysis. The novelty of this project lies in the development of a computationally-efficient aerodynamic solver that reduces the computational time compared to current state-of-the-art methods.

The project will contribute to:

• Improved realism of predictions earlier in the aircraft design process, reducing the risk of not meeting customers’ expectations and shortening the time to bring new aircraft on the market.
• Reduce current conservatism in aircraft design by performing dynamic (time-domain) aeroelastic analysis, which are today neglected because of the computational costs.
• Implement a paradigm change in aircraft design through the development of enhanced design tools for conceptual and preliminary phases, including aero-servo-elastic design constraints from the start of the design process. A new design paradigm is proposed, shifting the structural deformability from a performance limitation to a design opportunity.
• A close collaboration with industry guarantees that the outcomes of the project will feed back to the UK and European aviation sector, strengthening its competitiveness. A seamless integration within the existing industrial design process is expected, adding no complications to current procedures.

Candidates must hold a PhD or equivalent professional qualifications in Aerospace Engineering and an excellent research track record. Further experience of working with the DLR-Tau solver would be advantageous.

Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification.  The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

The University of Southampton is in the top one per cent of world universities and one of the UK’s top 15 research-intensive universities. We have an international reputation for research, teaching and enterprise activities. The successful candidate will join one of the UK’s most dynamic centres for engineering and environmental research and education, rated number one in the UK for research power in REF 2014. 

Application procedure:

You should submit your completed online application form at www.jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Georgie Warren (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 7749. Please quote reference 793216AK on all correspondence.