The Propulsion Aerodynamics and Icing Group at Cranfield delivers a broad portfolio of research and teaching spanning aero-propulsion, icing, computational and experimental fluid dynamics, and advanced aerospace system modelling.

The portfolio of the Propulsion Aerodynamics and Icing Group encompasses a wide range of activities across teaching, research, consultancy and professional development. Teaching is mainly focused on the Thermal Power and Propulsion MSc, as well as key contributions to professional development short courses within the faculty. The group also supervises PhD studies across a broad range of propulsion and icing research strands.

The research integrates fundamental and applied aspects, with strong academic and industrial collaborations, addressing propulsion systems, atmospheric icing, digital engineering, and rotorcraft technologies. Our research is supported by industry, UK, EU and international programmes, as well as research council and organisations. Within the group, there are specialist teams with notable activities, such as propulsion system integration and icing-related research.

The group is active in the following areas of research:

Propulsion systems:

  • Propulsion system integration and aerodynamics;
  • Intake, nacelle and exhaust system aerodynamics;
  • Turbomachinery aerodynamics;
  • Gas turbine performance analysis and modelling simulation;
  • Novel propulsion concepts and design optimisation;

Atmospheric Icing:

  • Ice protection and detection technologies
  • Ice adhesion strength testing and analysis
  • Ice accretion and shedding analysis
  • Microscale ice-substrate interactions
  • Droplet impact and freezing mechanics

Computational engineering:

  • Range of computational fluid dynamics methods
  • Multi-disciplinary and multi-objective optimisation methods;
  • Design methods, systems and software development;

Machine Learning and Data-Driven Methods:

  • Advanced low-order modelling
  • Surrogate-based optimisation
  • Multi-fidelity methods
  • Dimensionality reduction
  • Data fusion and augmentation techniques
  • Digitalisation

Experimental fluid dynamics:

  • Experimental testing and flow measurement;
  • Advanced aerodynamic instrumentation and measurements;
  • High speed aerodynamics ;
  • Particle image velocimetry;

Rotorcraft :

  • Rotary-wing aircraft aerodynamics.
  • Structural and rotor dynamics;
  • Aeromechanics;
  • Aeroacoustics
  • Mission analysis and optimisation;
  • Multidisciplinary design optimisation