Contact Professor Alistair Saddington
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 383009
- Email: a.j.saddington@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
- ResearchGate
Areas of expertise
- Aeronautical Systems
- Airworthiness
- Autonomous Systems
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Flight Physics
- Gas Turbines & Propulsion
- Vehicle Aerodynamics
- Weapons Engineering
Background
General Background
Alistair Saddington is Professor of Defence Aeronautics at Cranfield University, Shrivenham. His main research and teaching interests are in aerodynamics including computational and experimental methods, as well as engineering design and optimisation. He has over 25 years of experience in aerospace engineering across both industry and academia including research leadership, management, and postgraduate teaching and supervision.
Alistair received a BEng (Hons) degree in Aeromechanical Systems Engineering in 1990 from Cranfield Institute of Technology (now Cranfield University). This was followed by an EngD, also at Cranfield, for research on short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft propulsion integration aerodynamics. In 1997 he joined Rolls-Royce Bristol where he worked on a range of compressor aerodynamic design and research topics. In 1999 he returned to academia and joined the Aeromechanical Systems Group at Cranfield University, Shrivenham, as a lecturer. Alistair led the development of the University's part-time MSc programme in Military Aerospace and Airworthiness (MAA), which enrolled its first students in 2009. He held the inaugural position of Course Director from 2009 to 2017. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2010, Reader in 2020, and Professor and Head of Group in 2023. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and Member of the Special Interest Group on Weapons Science and Technology.
Teaching and student supervision
Prof. Saddington has supervised 40 MSc, 14 PhD and 3 MSc by Research students to successful completion. His postgraduate teaching has focused on aerodynamics and propulsion topics applied to piloted and autonomous aircraft, guided weapons, and related systems.
Research opportunities
Currently accepting applications from self-funded PhD students interested in engineering research related to defence aeronautics. Contact Prof. Alistair Saddington (a.j.saddington@cranfield.ac.uk).
Current activities
Head, Aeromechanical Systems Group
Prof. Saddington leads the Aeromechanical Systems Group which delivers teaching and research activities in aerospace engineering applied to piloted and autonomous aircraft, guided weapons, and related systems. The Group manages the Guided Weapon Systems and Military Aerospace and Airworthiness MSc courses. Research focusses on aerodynamics and flight dynamics, navigation and control. As well as simulation work, the Group manages the wind tunnel facilities at Shrivenham, which includes low-speed, transonic and supersonic capabilities.
Deputy Director, Cranfield Defence Aeronautics and Space (CDAS)
Prof Saddington is supporting the CDAS cross-university joint undertaking between SATM and CDS, led by Prof. David MacManus. The overall aim is to support UK security and prosperity through leadership, research and technology advancement in the field of defence aeronautics and space. This includes building links between academia and industry, developing cross-sector research initiatives, and Supporting growth and expertise through a dedicated CDAS fellowship scheme. (www.cranfield.ac.uk/cdas).
Clients
- BAE Systems PLC
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Leonardo S.p.A
- MBDA UK Ltd
- Ministry of Defence
- Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings) Limited
- Royal Air Force
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Bacci D & Saddington AJ. (2024). Influence of Door Gap on Aeroacoustics and Structural Response of a Cavity. AIAA Journal, 62(3)
- Spayne P, Lacey L, Cahillane M & Saddington A. (2024). Operating itself safely: merging the concepts of ‘safe to operate’ and ‘operate safely’ for lethal autonomous weapons systems containing artificial intelligence. Defence Studies, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print)
- Bacci D & Saddington AJ. (2023). Hilbert–Huang Spectral Analysis of Cavity Flows Incorporating Fluidic Spoilers. AIAA Journal, 61(1)
- Green RN, McNaught KR & Saddington AJ. (2022). Engineering maintenance decision-making with unsupported judgement under operational constraints. Safety Science, 153(September)
- Hamilton J, Galvão Wall D, Saddington AJ & Economou JT. (2020). Hypersurface normalised gain-scheduled controller for a non-linear 6-DOF fast jet. Aerospace Science and Technology, 106
- Farnell GP, Saddington AJ & Lacey LJ. (2019). A new systems engineering structured assurance methodology for complex systems. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 183
- Bacci D, Saddington AJ & Bray D. (2019). The effect of angle of attack on the aeroacoustic environment within the weapons bay of a generic UCAV. Aerospace Science and Technology, 93
- Ehirim O, Knowles K, Saddington A, Finnis M & Lawson N. (2019). On the Near-Wake of a Ground-Effect Diffuser with Passive Flow Control. International Journal of Automotive Technology, 20(1)
- Ehirim OH, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2019). A Review of Ground-Effect Diffuser Aerodynamics. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 141(2)
- Bacci D, Saddington AJ & Bray D. (2018). Identification of the formation of resonant tones in compressible cavity flows. Aerospace Science and Technology, 77
- Ehirim O, Knowles K, Saddington, A & Finnis M. (2018). Passive Flow Control on a Ground-Effect Diffuser Using an Inverted Wing. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems, 11(4)
- Ehirim OH, Knowles K, Saddington AJ & Finnis MV. (2018). Aerodynamics of a Convex Bump on a Ground-Effect Diffuser. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 140(9)
- Gurav B, Economou J, Saddington A & Knowles K. (2017). Multi-Mode Electric Actuator Dynamic Modelling for Missile Fin Control. Aerospace, 4(2)
- Khanal B, Saddington A & Knowles K. (2017). An Efficiently Parallelized High-Order Aeroacoustics Solver Using a Characteristic-Based Multi-Block Interface Treatment and Optimized Compact Finite Differencing. Aerospace, 4(2)
- Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Thangamani V. (2016). Scale effects on the performance of sawtooth spoilers in transonic rectangular cavity flow. Experiments in Fluids, 57(1)
- Saddington AJ, Finnis MV & Knowles K. (2015). The characterisation of a gust generator for aerodynamic testing. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 229(7)
- Thangamani V, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2014). Effects of Scaling on High Subsonic Cavity Flow Oscillations and Control. Journal of Aircraft, 51(2)
- Knowles RD, Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2013). On the near wake of a Formula One front wheel. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 227(11)
- Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2013). Turbulence Measurements in a Short Take-Off Vertical-Landing Fountain. Journal of Aircraft, 50(2)
- Khanal B, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2012). Computational investigation of cavity flow control using a passive device. The Aeronautical Journal, 116(1176)
- Khanal B, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2011). Computational study of flowfield characteristics in cavities with stores. The Aeronautical Journal, 115(1173)
- Khanal B, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2011). Mathematically consistent boundary conditions and turbulence matching at block interfaces for computational aeroacoustics. International Journal of Computational Fluid Dynamics, 25(8)
- Richardson MA, Saddington AJ, Ritchie SA, Knowles K, Titterton DH, .... (2011). Aero-Optical Effects of a Directional Infrared Countermeasure Pod in the Transonic Regime. AIAA Journal, 49(7)
- Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Cabrita PM. (2009). Flow Measurements in a Short Takeoff, Vertical Landing Fountain: Splayed Jets. Journal of Aircraft, 46(3)
- Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Cabrita PM. (2008). Flow Measurements in a Short Takeoff, Vertical Landing Fountain: Parallel Jets. Journal of Aircraft, 45(5)
- Saddington AJ, Knowles RD & Knowles K. (2007). Laser Doppler anemometry measurements in the near-wake of an isolated Formula One wheel. Experiments in Fluids, 42(5)
- Knowles K, Saddington A & Badcock K. (2006). Guest Editorial. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 220(6)
- Knowles K, Saddington A & Badcock K. (2006). Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering: Guest editorial. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 220(6)
- Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2006). A review of jet mixing enhancement for aircraft propulsion applications. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 220(2)
- Knowles K, Saddington A & Badcock K. (2006). Special issue on integrating computational fluid dynamics and experiments in aerodynamics. PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART G-JOURNAL OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, 220(G6)
- Cabrita PM, Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2005). PIV measurements in a twin-jet STOVL fountain flow. The Aeronautical Journal, 109(1100)
- Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2005). A review of out-of-ground-effect propulsion-induced interference on STOVL aircraft. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 41(3-4)
- Dix J, Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Richardson MA. (2005). Infra-red signature reduction study on a small-scale jet engine. The Aeronautical Journal, 109(1092)
- Saddington AJ, Lawson NJ & Knowles K. (2004). An experimental and numerical investigation of under-expanded turbulent jets. The Aeronautical Journal, 108(1081)
- Saddington AJ, Lawson NJ & Knowles K. (2004). An experimental and numerical investigation of under-expanded turbulent jets. The Aeronautical Journal, 108(1081)
- Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Wong RYT. (2002). Numerical modelling of mixing in underexpanded jets from castellated nozzles. The Aeronautical Journal, 106(1066)
- Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2001). Jet/Intake Interference in Short Take off, Vertical Landing Aircraft. Journal of Aircraft, 38(5)
- Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (1999). Mutual interference between jets and intakes in STOVL aircraft. The Aeronautical Journal, 103(1024)
Conference Papers
- Debiasi MT, Atkinson K, Saddington A & Finnis M. (2023). Aero-whisker for the Measurement of Aircraft Flight Speed and Angle of Attack in Compressible Flow Conditions
- Debiasi MT, Atkinson K, Saddington A & Finnis M. (2023). Correction: Aero-whisker for the Measurement of Aircraft Flight Speed and Angle of Attack in Compressible Flow Conditions
- Bacci D & Saddington AJ. (2022). Exploring angle-of-attack effects in the aero-acoustic response of a weapons bay at transonic and supersonic Mach number
- Knowles K, Bacci D, Saddington AJ, Newby B & Taylor NJ. (2017). Controlling unsteady cavity flows using internal structures
- Bacci D, Saddington A & Bray D. (2016). Wavelet Analysis of Complex Geometry Transonic Cavity Flows
- Saddington AJ, Thangamani V & Knowles K. (2016). Comparison of Passive Flow Control Methods for a Cavity in Transonic Flow
- Larabi A, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2014). Study of Asymmetric Vortices over a Slender Body of Revolution at High Angles of Attack
- Thangamani V, Saddington A & Knowles K. (2013). An Investigation of Passive Control Methods for a Large Scale Cavity Model in High Subsonic Flow
- Thangamani V, Knowles K & Saddington A. (2012). The Effects of Scaling on High Subsonic Cavity Flow Oscillations and Control
- Khanal B, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2010). Computation of Automobile Cavity Tones Using a New Block Interface Treatment
- Khanal B, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2009). Study of Cavity Unsteady Flowfield
- Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Cabrita PM. (2009). On the characteristics of a twin-jet STOVL fountain
- Khanal B, Knowles K & Saddington A. (2009). Computational Study of Cavity Flowfield at Transonic Speeds
- Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Cabrita PM. (2008). Turbulence Measurements in a STOVL Fountain
- Khanal B, Knowles K, Saddington A & Obayashi S. (2008). Computational aeroacoustic study of a landing gear
- Saddington A, Knowles K & Cabrita P. (2007). Flow Visualization and Measurements in a short take of vertical landing Fountain Flow
- Bray D, Knowles K, Saddington AJ, Ritchie SA & Finnis MV. (2006). 3-D Visualisation of Rectangular Cavity Flows at Transonic Speeds
- Knowles RD, Finnis MV, Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2006). Planar visualization of vortical flows
- Knowles RD, Finnis MV, Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2005). Novel Post-Processing Techniques for Vortical Flows
- Knowles K, Saddington AJ & Cabrita PM. (2005). Unsteady Characteristics of Twin Impinging Jet Fountain Flows
- Saddington AJ, Cabrita PM & Knowles K. (2005). Large-scale Instabilities in a {STOVL} Upwash Fountain
- Bowdrey RJ, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2005). Experimental and Computational Studies of Unsteady Flow Features of Upwash Fountains from Twin Impinging Jets
- Hanbury-Chatten E, Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2004). Development of a Fixed Wing Flying Test Platform for Future [MAV] Systems
- Cabrita PM, Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2004). PIV Measurements in a Twin-impinging Jet Fountain Flow
- Cabrita PM, Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2004). Development of a Fountain Flow from Twin Impinging Compressible Jets
- Dix J, Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Richardson MA. (2004). Infra-red Signature Reduction on a Small-scale Turbojet Engine
- Saddington AJ, Knowles K & Lawson NJ. (2003). The Synergy of CFD and Experiments in Aerodynamics Research at Cranfield University, Shrivenham
- Saddington A, Cabrita P & Knowles K. (2002). Unsteady Features of Twin-jet STOVL Ground Effects
- Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2002). MODELLING AND EXPERIMENTS ON UNDEREXPANDED TURBULENT JET MIXING
- Knowles RD, Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2002). Simulation and Experiments on an Isolated Road Wheel Rotating in Ground Contact
- Saddington AJ, Lawson NJ & Knowles K. (2002). Simulation and Experiments on Under-expanded Turbulent Jets
- Saddington AJ, Lawson NJ & Knowles K. (2002). Numerical Predictions and Experiments on Supersonic Jet Mixing from Castellated Nozzles
- Knowles R, Saddington A & Knowles K. (2002). On the Near Wake of Rotating, 40%-Scale Champ Car Wheels
- Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2000). Jet Ground Effects with Coaxial Nozzles
- Knowles K & Saddington AJ. (2000). V/STOL Aircraft Design with Joint Strike Fighter Applications - an international short course for industry
- Saddington AJ & Knowles K. (2000). Comparison of Jet-induced Lift Loss for Single and Co-annular Jets
- Saddington A. (2000). Mass flow ratio effects on jet/intake interference in STOVL aircraft
- Knowles K, Myszko M, Wilson MJ, Saddington AJ & Kirkham L. (1995). Current Jet Aerodynamics Research at RMCS (poster)
