Dr Pavlos Zachos

Areas of expertise

• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Gas Turbines & Propulsion
• Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
• Power Systems & Turbines

Background

Dr. Pavlos Zachos holds the position of Reader in Propulsion Aerodynamics at the Centre of Propulsion and Thermal Power Engineering. He is a Rolls-Royce Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellow, a Chartered Engineer through the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of AdvanceHE, and a visiting scholar at the University of Sydney, Australia. Pavlos is the acting Chair of a NATO Science and Technology committee focusing on propulsion system integration. He is appointed as a subject matter expert within various related AIAA Technical Committees through which he actively steers and supports delivery of the Institute's technical scope.

Dr. Zachos earned his PhD in gas turbine performance and aerodynamics from Cranfield University in 2010, receiving the Kings Norton Medal for outstanding doctoral research. He previously worked as a turbine designer for the Trent engine family at Rolls-Royce Derby.

Pavlos is a specialist in experimental and computational propulsion aerodynamics. His research interests include the aerodynamics of propulsion system integration and engine compatibility, NetZero aero-engine design and optimization, high-speed propulsion system aero integration, air induction system technology, high performance turbomachinery design, and inlet flow distortion. Since 2010, Dr. Zachos has led and delivered numerous research programmes, covering technology readiness levels (TRL) from 3 to 6+. His research endeavors are supported by major industrial partners such as Rolls-Royce, Boeing, Airbus, and MBDA, alongside various UK research councils (ATI, EPSRC, I-UK and the Royal Academy of Engineering). He has also secured major national grants from the UK Government, the UK Ministry of Defence, and the European Commission.

In his research, Dr. Zachos has pioneered advancements in propulsion system compatibility experimental testing by implementing non-intrusive optical flow diagnostic methods for inlet flow distortion measurements. His research findings have been instrumental in supporting aeroengine compatibility test campaigns within industrial settings as part of engine certification processes. Dr Zachos has also led the delivery of a dual-use, UK sovereign facility for supersonic propulsion system integration testing which is uniquely positioned to support research across a TRL range between 3 and 5+. This unique design characteristic makes the facility a vehicle for fundamental as well as industrial research programmes enabling the development, transition and pull-through of the outputs into higher TRL industrial settings for further exploitation by the UK Aerospace industry, which no other research institute offers in the broader area of supersonic propulsion integration aerodynamics.

Regarding his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Zachos owns and leads the delivery of the Turbomachinery and Blade Cooling module, a component of Cranfield's MSc program in Thermal Power and Propulsion. His teaching curriculum includes fundamentals of thermofluids science, compressible flow theory, gas dynamics, and the principles of turbomachinery design and performance. He is a former owner and module leader of Cranfield's Thermofluid Science taught module which formed part of many of the University's post-graduate programmes. Furthermore, he serves as the owner and course director for the Axial Compressor Design and Performance continuous professional development (CPD) programme, and he contributes to several other related CPD courses. To date, Dr. Zachos has successfully supervised over 15 doctoral students since 2010 as a primary supervisor.

Dr. Zachos is an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). His publication record includes more than 70 refereed articles in journals and conference proceedings, demonstrating his contributions to the fields of applied aerodynamics and propulsion system performance and integration.

Research opportunities

Dr Zachos' research interests focus on the following areas:

- Applied aeorodynamics of propulsion systems

- Propulsion system integration, engine compatibility and distortion

- Supersonic flow aerodynamics

- High- and low- speed air induction system aerodynamics

- Inlet flow distortion

- Novel propulsion concepts and design optimisation

- Test rig design for high-speed propulsion system integration

- Aerodynamic measurements

- Non-intrusive metrology for aerodynamic applications

- Laser-based optical flow diagnostics

- Aerodynamic testing

- Industrial propulsion integration testing

- Applied computational fluid dynamics

Current activities

Dr Zachos currently leads a portfolio of research programmes in the broader area of propulsion system integration and compatibility with special focus on the development, maturing and demonstration of advanced, non-intrusive instrumentation capabilities for novel propulsion measurements, knowledge generation in aerodynamics to aid the development of next generation NetZero aircrafts and support of UK industry tests with novel measurements and data analytics.

His current professional activities focus on the delivery of a unique, dual-use UK sovereign aerodynamic testing facility for high-speed propulsion system integration measurements. This multi-year programme has received direct funding by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) with the ambition to build and expand current measurement capabilities into supersonic flow regimes for engine compatiility testing. The facility is uniquely positioned to support research across a TRL range between 3 and 5+, which makes it a vehicle for fundamental as well as industrial research programmes enabling the development, transition and pull-through of the outputs into higher TRL industrial settings for further exploitation by the UK Aerospace industry.

In addition, Pavlos in collaboration with major industrial partners and various SMEs, pioneers industrial engine compatibility testing using non-intrusive measurement methods for dynamic inlet flow distortion characterisations at high TRL environments. As part of these programmes Pavlos' research group works closely with specialist SMEs to develop bespoke specialist instrumentation solutions for propulsion aero measurements, which subsequently find application in industrial measurements for aero-engine performance characterisation and certification.

Dr Zachos a visiting scholar at the University of Sydney, Australia since 2022. He is also the acting Chair of a NATO Science and Technology committee focusing on propulsion system integration. He is appointed as a subject matter expert within various related AIAA Technical Committees through which he actively steers and supports delivery of the Institute's technical scope.

Clients

• Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC
• Airbus SE
• Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
• MBDA UK Ltd

Publications

• Articles in journals
• Conference papers