Contact Dr David John Rajendran
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754571
- Email: D.Rajendran@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Computing, Simulation & Modelling
- Design, Strategy & Innovation
- Gas Turbines & Propulsion
Background
David John is a Lecturer within the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre for Aero Systems Design, Integration and Performance at Cranfield University. He specialises in aero systems design for future propulsion architectures. David graduated with distinction in his bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology, India. After his graduation, he worked at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment in the design and development of turbines for various applications. Thereafter, he enrolled in the Gas Turbine Technology Master's degree at Cranfield University. In his Master's programme, his research looked into the turbine aerodynamic behaviour in overspeed conditions. Subsequently, he did his doctoral research within the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre at Cranfield University where he explored the design space of using Variable Pitch Fans for reverse thrust in future efficient, environment friendly, civil gas turbines.
David has received several prestigious awards in both the academia and the industry like the stipendiary fellowship of the Aeronautics Research and Development Board, Government of India 2009, Rear Admiral A K Hando Trophy 2010, Government of India Young Scientist Award 2014, Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) NE Rowe Award 2016 and Cranfield Branch Annual Lecture Award 2016, Roy Fedden Memorial Prize 2017, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Turbo Expo Best Paper Awards 2019 and 2020, Lord Kings Norton Medal 2020, and the ASME John P Davis Award 2020 and 2021. He has a total of 22 high impact journal and conference publications along with a editorial role for a special issue of Journal of Aerospace Sciences and Technologies. He has jointly filed 10 patent applications to date. He is a Member of the RAeS, ASME and the Aeronautical Society of India. He has been member of several peer review and preliminary design review committees, concept study and funding bid development teams, and has contributed in the organization of several high profile conferences and working committees. He is a peer-reviewer for several International gas turbine conferences, Journal of Aerospace Sciences and Technologies and the ASME Turbo Expo.
Research opportunities
David's research expertise is in integrated system design space exploration with different levels of modelling fidelity. Interdisciplinary design and research challenges with a focus on fluid dynamic design optimization across aerospace, energy and other industries are welcome for Masters and doctoral projects. Design exploration studies to optimize fluid processes with a focus on NetZero and future sustainable aviation are particularly welcome.
Current activities
David's research interests include development of robust high fidelity methods for numerical flow solutions in complete integrated systems and system level interdependency explorations to develop optimum aerodynamic designs for future propulsion architectures. He plays an active role in InnovateUK project PINES led by Rolls-Royce plc. and in several other industrially funded doctoral programmes and projects. David's research expertise in flow modelling is used in several other EU and industry funded projects within the Centre. He is also involved in integrated modelling of experimental facilities, exploration of unconventional flows, design code development for quick concept studies, exploratory flow modelling with hydrogen and supercritical fluids, and multi-disciplinary optimization.
Clients
Rolls-Royce plc.
InnovateUK
Siemens Industry Software Limited.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Rajendran DJ, Palaveev K, Anselmi E, Santhanakrishnan M & Pachidis V. (2024). Insights Into the Flow Field and Performance of a Boundary Layer Pump. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 146(6)
- Vitlaris D, Rajendran DJ, Tunstall R, Whurr J & Pachidis V. (2024). On the Flow Physics During the Transition of a Variable Pitch Fan From Nominal Operation to Reverse Thrust Mode. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 146(4)
- Coskun S, Rajendran DJ, Pachidis V & Bacic M. (2024). Control of flow separation over an aerofoil by external acoustic excitation at a high Reynolds number. Physics of Fluids, 36(1)
- Freschi R, Bakogianni A, Rajendran D, Palma E, Talluri L, .... (2023). Flow Field Explorations in a Boundary Layer Pump Rotor for Improving 1D Design Codes. Designs, 7(1)
- Rajendran DJ, Tunstall R & Pachidis V. (2022). Estimation of Resultant Airframe Forces for a Variable Pitch Fan Operating in Reverse Thrust Mode. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 144(12)
- Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2021). Flow Distortion Into the Core Engine for an Installed Variable Pitch Fan in Reverse Thrust Mode. Journal of Turbomachinery, 143(7)
- Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2021). On the Use of an Inflatable Rubber Lip to Improve the Reverse Thrust Flow Field in a Variable Pitch Fan. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 143(11)
- Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2019). Fan Flow Field in an Installed Variable Pitch Fan Operating in Reverse Thrust for a Range of Aircraft Landing Speeds. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 141(10)
- Pawsey L, Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2018). Characterisation of turbine behaviour for an engine overspeed prediction model. Aerospace Science and Technology, 73
Conference Papers
- Coskun S, Rajendran DJ, Pachidis V & Bacic M. (2023). Effect of Acoustic Excitation Amplitude on Flow Separation over NACA0015 Aerofoil for Near-Stall Angle-of-Attacks
- Coskun S, Rajendran DJ, Pachidis V & Bacic M. (2023). Control of Flow Separation in a High-speed Compressor Cascade Through Acoustic Excitation
- Palaveev K, Rajendran DJ, Anselmi E, Santhanakrishnan M & Pachidis V. (2023). Insights Into the Flow Field and Performance of a Boundary Layer Pump
- Vitlaris D, Rajendran DJ, Pachidis V, Tunstall R & Whurr J. (2023). On the Flow Physics During the Transition of a Variable Pitch Fan From Nominal Operation to Reverse Thrust Mode
- van Heerden ASJ, Ippedico S, Rajendran DJ, Anselmi-Palma E, Roumeliotis I, .... (2023). Performance Analysis of an Engine-Mounted Compression System for Aircraft Environmental Control
- Rajendran DJ, Tunstall R & Pachidis V. (2022). Estimation of Resultant Airframe Forces for a Variable Pitch Fan Operating in Reverse Thrust Mode
- Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2021). On the Use of an Inflatable Rubber Lip to Improve the Reverse Thrust Flow Field in a Variable Pitch Fan
- Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2020). Flow Distortion Into the Core Engine for an Installed Variable Pitch Fan in Reverse Thrust Mode
- Rajendran DJ, Bentley D, Aguirre HA, Tunstall R & Pachidis V. (2020). Development of a Research Model to Study the Operability of a Variable Pitch Fan Aero Engine In Reverse Thrust
- Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2019). Fan Flow Field in an Installed Variable Pitch Fan Operating in Reverse Thrust for a Range of Aircraft Landing Speeds
- Rajendran DJ, Bharathan RD, Kapil S & Ramana Murty SV. (2017). Assessment of commercial RANS solvers for the prediction of flow behaviour in a 2D cascade at different incidence angles
- Desikan BR, Rajendran DJ, Kapil S, Ramana Murty SV & Kishore Prasad D. (2017). Design and Analysis of Radial Turbine for Turbocharger Application
- Pawsey L, Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2017). Aerodynamic Performance of an Unlocated High Pressure Turbine Rotor With Worn Tip Seal Fins
- Pawsey L, Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2017). Aerodynamic performance of an un-located high-pressure turbine rotor
- Pawsey L, Rajendran DJ & Pachidis V. (2017). Aerodynamic performance of an unlocated high pressure turbine rotor with worn tip seal fins
- Rajendran DJ, Bharathan RD, Kapil S, Ramana Murty SV & Kishore Prasad D. (2016). Effect of lean and end-wall contouring on the performance of a typical high pressure turbine
- Ramana Murty SV, Rajendran DJ, Bharathan RD, Kapil S & Kishore Kumar S. (2015). Effect of laminar–turbulent transition on performance of a typical low pressure turbine stage of a small turbofan engine
- Ramana Murty SV, Rajendran DJ, Bharathan RD, Ganesh R & Kishore Kumar S. (2015). Effect of surface roughness and manufacturing deviations on the performance of typical high pressure turbine stage of a small turbofan engine
- Ramana Murty SV, Rajendran DJ, Bharathan RD, Ganesh R & Kishore Kumar S. (2013). Aerodynamic design of low pressure turbine using 3D viscous flow computations
- Ramana Murty SV, Kapil S, Rajendran DR, Senthil Kumaran R, Ganesh R, .... (2013). Numerical and experimental analysis of the mean section of the high pressure turbine stage of a typical small turbofan engine
- Ramana Murty SV, Kapil S, Rajendran DJ, Bharathan RD, Ganesh R, .... (2013). A numerical study on the effect of secondary flows on the performance of a typical low pressure turbine stage
- Ramana Murty SV, Rajendran DJ, Bharathan RD, Ganesh R & Kishore Kumar S. (2013). Effect of different trailing edge radii on the performance of an axial flow turbine in a typical small turbofan engine
- Ramana Murty SV, Kapil S, Rajendran DJ, Ganesh R, Krishnaiah TV, .... (2011). Unsteady flow interaction between stator and rotor of a low pressure turbine stage using 3D CFD