Contact Professor David MacManus
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754735
- Email: D.G.Macmanus@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Computing, Simulation & Modelling
- Energy and the Environment
- Flight Physics
- Gas Turbines & Propulsion
- Instrumentation, Sensors and Measurement Science
- Power Systems & Turbines
- Renewable Energy
Background
David MacManus is the Professor of Propulsion Aerodynamics in the School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing at Cranfield University. His main research and teaching interests centre around aerodynamics including computational and experimental methods, aerospace propulsion, turbomachinery aerodynamics, advanced instrumentation, as well as engineering design and optimisation. He has over 20 years of experience in aerospace engineering across both industry and academia including research leadership, income generation, management as well as postgraduate teaching and supervision.
David received an honours B.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1990 from the National University of Ireland (Galway). He followed this with a PhD, also at Galway, on the aerodynamics of Laminar Flow Control technologies for civil aircraft. In 1997 he joined Rolls-Royce Derby where he worked on a range of turbine aerodynamic design and research topics. In 2003 he returned to academia and joined the Department of Aerospace Sciences at Cranfield University as a lecturer. In 2010 he moved to the Centre for Propulsion Engineering where he is current Deputy Head of Centre and the Head of Gas Turbine Technology Group. He is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Member of the IMechE/RAeS Combined Propulsion Technical Advisory Committee.
Teaching & Student Supervision
Prof. MacManus has supervised more than 130 MSc, 21 PhD and 4 MSc by Research students to successful completion. His postgraduate teaching has focused on aerodynamic topics including modules on viscous flows, compressible flows, aero-engine aerodynamics, sustainable aviation technologies, and turbomachinery aerodynamic design.
Refereeing for High-impact Journals
Prof MacManus has acted as referee for a range of high-impact journals include Journal of Fluids Engineering, Experiments in Fluids, AIAA Journal, AIAA Journal of Aircraft, Aerospace Science and Technology, Journal of Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Experimental and Thermal Fluid Science, Aeronautical Journal.
Publications and awards
More than 60 peer-reviewed journal papers and 44 conference papers. He has also jointly received awards for Royal Aeronautical Society Best Written Paper Award (Silver 2019, Bronze 2010); AIAA Best Paper Award (2016); ISABE Valensi Award, Conference Best Technical Paper (2017)
Research opportunities
Currently accepting applications from self-funded PhD students interested in aerospace engineering and aerodynamics. Contact Prof. David MacManus d.g.macmanus@cranfield.ac.uk
Current activities
Head of Gas Turbine Technology Group
Prof MacManus leads Gas Turbine Technology Group which encompasses teaching and research activities across a broad range of areas. The research portfolio includes a considerable activity centred around propulsion system integration for aerospace applications with specialisations in aerodynamic design, optimisation, simulation, and experimental work. The group also includes a specialist team researching, and providing consultancy, in the area of icing including an Icing Wind Tunnel. Other areas include gas turbine simulation and performance modelling, control as well as thermal management research and reaching.
Director, Cranfield Defence Aeronautics and Space (CDAS)
Prof MacManus is leading the CDAS cross-university joint undertaking between SATM and CDS. 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).
Deputy Head of Centre for Propulsion Engineering in the School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing (SATM);
The Centre for Propulsion Engineering has a large mixed portfolio of research and education encompassing activities in air, land and sea technologies for power and propulsion. Within this context there is a notable activity with about 50-80 MSc students annually enrolled on the Thermal Power, about 80 full-time and part-time PhD students as well as a substantial portfolio of regular short courses as well as bespoke continued professional development training.
Clients
Prof. MacManus has led research programmes and collaborations with a wide range of national and international clients and funding support. This includes: Rolls-Royce, UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, UK RI (TSB, ATI, Innovate UK), EU, US Air Force Research Laboratories Wright Paterson, French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis, Airbus Innovation Works, Alstom, , Renewable Energy Technology Centre (Germany), Engineering Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Centre for Defence Enterprise, Cobham Mission Equipment, Alstom, RWE Power, Aircraft Research Association.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Migliorini M, Doll U, Lawson NJ, Melnikov SM, Steinbock J, .... (2025). Advancements on the use of Filtered Rayleigh Scattering (FRS) with machine learning methods for flow distortion in aero-engine intakes. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 160
- Sabnis K, Babinsky H, Boscagli L, MacManus DG & Sheaf CT. (2025). Shock-induced fan cowl separation during aeroengine windmilling at diversion from cruise. AIAA Journal, 63(3)
- Piovesan T, Zachos PK, MacManus DG, Kempaiah K, Michaelis D, .... (2025). Coupled fan-intake dynamic distortion characterization at crosswind conditions. AIAA Journal, 63(2)
- Goulos I, MacManus DG, Hueso Rebassa J, Alderman J & Sheaf CT. (2025). Impact of installation on the performance of a civil turbofan exhaust at wind-milling: a combined experimental and numerical approach. Aerospace Science and Technology, 158
- Piovesan T, Zachos PK, MacManus DG & Sheaf C. (2025). Unsteady swirl distortion in a short intake under crosswind conditions. AIAA Journal, 63(5)
- Tejero F, MacManus DG, Sanchez-Moreno F, Schreiner D, Hill A, .... (2025). Aerodynamics of high-bypass-ratio aeroengine nacelles: numerical and experimental investigation. Journal of Aircraft, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print)
- Migliorini M, Zachos PK, MacManus DG & Giannouloudis A. (2025). Experimental investigation of unsteady fan-intake interactions using time-resolved stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 166
- Hueso-Rebassa J, MacManus D, Sánchez-Moreno F, Goulos I, Tejero F, .... (2025). Multi-Fidelity Design Optimization of Installed Aero-Engines With Non-Axisymmetric Exhausts. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 147(9)
- Goulos I, MacManus DG, Hueso Rebassa J, Tejero F, Au A, .... (2024). Impact of installation on the performance of an aero-engine exhaust at wind-milling flow conditions. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 146(8)
- Boscagli L, MacManus DG, Tejero F, Sabnis K, Babinsky H, .... (2024). Characteristics of shock-induced boundary-layer separation on nacelles under windmilling diversion conditions. AIAA Journal, 62(1)
- Philippou AL, Zachos PK & MacManus DG. (2024). Aerodynamic instabilities in high-speed air intakes and their role in propulsion system integration. Aerospace, 11(1)
- Migliorini M, Zachos PK & MacManus DG. (2024). Evaluation of extreme value predictions for unsteady flow distortion of aero-engine intakes. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 146(9)
- Tejero F, MacManus DG, Heidebrecht A & Sheaf CT. (2024). Artificial neural network for preliminary design and optimisation of civil aero-engine nacelles. The Aeronautical Journal, 128(1328)
- Sánchez-Moreno F, MacManus DG, Tejero F & Sheaf CT. (2024). Nacelle optimisation through multi-fidelity neural networks. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 34(9)
- Sánchez-Moreno F, MacManus D, Tejero F, Hueso Rebassa J & Sheaf CT. (2024). Installed nacelle aerodynamics at cruise and windmilling conditions. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 96(6)
- Boscagli L, Sabnis K, MacManus DG, Babinsky H, Tejero F, .... (2024). Numerical and experimental investigations of diffusion-induced boundary layer separation on aero-engine nacelles. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 109
- Tejero F, Sureshbabu S, Boscagli L & MacManus DG. (2024). Point-enhanced convolutional neural network: a novel deep learning method for transonic wall-bounded flows. Aerospace Science and Technology, 155, Part 2
- Tejero F, MacManus DG, Sanchez-Moreno F & Sheaf C. (2023). Neural network-based multi-point, multi-objective optimisation for transonic applications. Aerospace Science and Technology, 136(May)
- Tejero F, MacManus DG, Goulos I & Sheaf CT. (2023). Propulsion integration study of civil aero-engine nacelles. The Aeronautical Journal, 128(1320)
- Boscagli L, MacManus DG, Christie R & Sheaf C. (2023). Effect of unsteady fan-intake interaction on short intake design. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 146(3)
- Hueso Rebassa J, MacManus DG, Tejero F, Goulos I, Sánchez-Moreno F, .... (2023). Design optimisation of non-axisymmetric exhausts for installed civil aero-engines. Aerospace Science and Technology, 142(November)
- Kempaiah KU, Piovesan T, Zachos PK, Michaelis D, Gebbink R, .... (2023). High-resolution turbofan intake flow characterization by automated stereoscopic-PIV in an industrial wind tunnel environment. Measurement Science and Technology, 35(2)
- Doll U, Migliorini M, Baikie J, Zachos PK, Röhle I, .... (2022). Non-intrusive flow diagnostics for unsteady inlet flow distortion measurements in novel aircraft architectures. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 130(April)
- Tanguy G, MacManus DG & Garnier E. (2022). Numerical investigation of the unsteady distortion for an S-duct intake with mechanical vortex generators. International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 95(June)
- Migliorini M, Zachos PK & MacManus DG. (2022). S-duct flow distortion with non-uniform inlet conditions. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 237(2)
- Tejero F, MacManus DG, Hueso Rebassa J, Sanchez Moreno F, Goulos I, .... (2022). Aerodynamic optimisation of civil aero-engine nacelles by dimensionality reduction and multi-fidelity techniques. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 33(4)
- Boscagli L, Christie R, MacManus DG & Piovesan T. (2022). Aerodynamics of a short intake in crosswind. Aerospace Science and Technology, 129(October)
- Tejero F, MacManus DG, Matesanz García J, Swarthout AE & Sheaf CT. (2022). Towards the design and optimisation of future compact aero-engines: intake/fancowl trade-off investigation. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 33(4)
- Matesanz García J, Piovesan T & MacManus DG. (2022). Aerodynamic optimization of the exhaust system of an aft-mounted boundary layer ingestion propulsor. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 33(4)
- Goulos I, John Otter JJ, Tejero F, Hueso Rebassa J & MacManus DG. (2021). Civil turbofan propulsion aerodynamics: thrust-Drag accounting and impact of engine installation position. Aerospace Science and Technology, 111(April)
- Tejero F, Christie R, MacManus DG & Sheaf C. (2021). Non-axisymmetric aero-engine nacelle design by surrogate-based methods. Aerospace Science and Technology, 117(October)
- Migliorini M, Zachos PK & MacManus DG. (2021). Novel method for evaluating intake unsteady flow distortion. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 38(1)
- Rao AN, Goulos I & MacManus DG. (2021). Impact of installation on a civil large turbofan exhaust system at idle descent conditions. Aerospace Science and Technology, 119(December)
- Robinson M, MacManus DG, Christie R, Sheaf C & Grech N. (2020). Nacelle design for ultra-high bypass ratio engines with CFD based optimisation. Aerospace Science and Technology, 113
- Otter JJ, Goulos I, Christie R & MacManus DG. (2020). Design and analysis of non-axisymmetric installed aero-engine exhaust systems. Aerospace Science and Technology, 106
- Ramirez-Rubio S & MacManus DG. (2020). Framework for estimation of nacelle drag on isolated aero-engines with separate jets. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 234(14)
- McLelland G, MacManus DG, Zachos PK, Gil-Prieto D & Migliorini M. (2020). Influence of upstream total pressure profiles on S-duct intake flow distortion. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 36(3)
- Tejero F, MacManus DG & Sheaf C. (2019). Surrogate-based aerodynamic optimisation of compact nacelle aero-engines. Aerospace Science and Technology, 93
- Otter JJ, Christie R, Goulos I, MacManus DG & Grech N. (2019). Parametric design of non-axisymmetric separate-jet aero-engine exhaust systems. Aerospace Science and Technology, 93
- Goulos I & MacManus DG. (2019). Civil turbofan engine exhaust aerodynamics: impact of fan exit flow characteristics. Aerospace Science and Technology, 93
- Giangaspero G, MacManus DG & Goulos I. (2019). Surrogate models for the prediction of the aerodynamic performance of exhaust systems. Aerospace Science and Technology, 92
- Tejero F, Robinson M, MacManus DG & Sheaf C. (2019). Multi-objective optimisation of short nacelles for high bypass ratio engines. Aerospace Science and Technology, 91
- Otter JJ, Stankowski T, Robinson M & MacManus DG. (2019). Installation aerodynamics of civil aero-engine exhaust systems. Aerospace Science and Technology, 89
- McLelland G, MacManus DG & Sheaf C. (2019). A semi-empirical model for streamwise vortex intensification. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 233(12)
- Al-Akam AA, Nikolaidis T & MacManus DG. (2019). Computational fluid dynamics-based approach for low-order models of propelling nozzle performance. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 233(13)
- Christie R, Robinson M, Tejero F & MacManus D. (2019). The use of Hybrid intuitive Class Shape Transformation Curves in Aerodynamic Design. Aerospace Science and Technology, 95
- Gil-Prieto D, Zachos PK, MacManus DG & McLelland G. (2018). Unsteady characteristics of S-duct intake flow distortion. Aerospace Science and Technology, 84
- Heidebrecht A & MacManus DG. (2018). Surrogate model of complex non-linear data for preliminary nacelle design. Aerospace Science and Technology, 84
- Goldberg C, Nalianda D, MacManus DG, Pilidis P & Felder J. (2018). Method for simulating the performance of a boundary layer ingesting propulsion system at design and off-design. Aerospace Science and Technology, 78
- Tanguy G, MacManus DG, Garnier E & Martin PG. (2018). Characteristics of unsteady total pressure distortion for a complex aero-engine intake duct. Aerospace Science and Technology, 78
- Otter JJ, Goulos I, MacManus DG & Slaby M. (2018). Aerodynamic analysis of civil aeroengine exhaust systems using computational fluid dynamics. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 34(5)
- Robinson M, MacManus DG & Sheaf C. (2018). Aspects of aero-engine nacelle drag. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 233(5)
- Goulos I, Otter JJ, Stankowski T, MacManus DG, Grech N, .... (2017). Design optimisation of separate-jet exhausts for the next generation of civil aero-engines. The Aeronautical Journal, 122(1256)
- Goulos I, Stankowski T, MacManus DG, Woodrow P & Sheaf C. (2017). Civil turbofan engine exhaust aerodynamics: impact of bypass nozzle after-body design. Aerospace Science and Technology, 73
- Gil-Prieto D, MacManus DG, Zachos PK & Bautista A. (2017). Assessment methods for unsteady flow distortion in aero-engine intakes. Aerospace Science and Technology, 72
- Stankowski T, MacManus DG & Robinson M. (2017). The aerodynamic effects of VHBR (Very High Bypass Ratio) engine installation to the Common Research Model - WITHDRAWN DUPLICATE (title change) see: https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/12454. Journal of Aircraft, 54(6)
- Gil-Prieto D, MacManus DG, Zachos PK, Tanguy G & Menzies KR. (2017). Convoluted intake distortion measurements using stereo particle image velocimetry. AIAA Journal, 55(6)
- Gil-Prieto D, MacManus DG, Zachos PK, Tanguy G, Wilson F, .... (2017). Delayed detached-eddy simulation and particle image velocimetry investigation of S-Duct flow distortion. AIAA Journal, 55(6)
- MacManus DG, Chiereghin N, Gil-Prieto D & Zachos PK. (2017). Complex aero-engine intake ducts and dynamic distortion. AIAA Journal, 55(7)
- Christie R, Heidebrecht A & MacManus DG. (2017). An automated approach to nacelle parameterization using intuitive class shape transformation curves. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 139(6)
- Stankowski TP, MacManus DG, Sheaf C & Christie R. (2016). Aerodynamics of aero-engine installation. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 230(14)
- Chaplin R, MacManus D, Leopold F, Martinez B, Gauthier T, .... (2016). Correction: Aerodynamic interference on a finned slender body. AIAA Journal, 54(7)
- Chaplin R, MacManus DG, Leopold F, Martinez B, Gauthier T, .... (2016). Aerodynamic Interference on Finned Slender Body. AIAA Journal, 54(7)
- Mifsud M, MacManus DG & Shaw ST. (2016). A variable-fidelity aerodynamic model using proper orthogonal decomposition. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 82(10)
- Goulos I, Stankowski T, Otter J, MacManus DG, Grech N, .... (2016). Aerodynamic design of separate-jet exhausts for future civil aero engines, Part I: parametric geometry definition and CFD approach. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 138(8)
- Goulos I, Otter J, Stankowski T, MacManus DG, Grech N, .... (2016). Aerodynamic design of separate-jet exhausts for future civil aero-engines, Part II: design space exploration, surrogate modeling, and optimization. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 138(8)
- Zhang S, MacManus DG & Luo J. (2015). Parametric study of turbine NGV blade lean and vortex design. Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 29(1)
- MacManus DG & Slaby M. (2015). Intake ground vortex and computational modelling of foreign object ingestion. The Aeronautical Journal, 119(1219)
- McLelland G, MacManus D & Sheaf C. (2015). The Effect of Streamtube Contraction on the Characteristics of a Streamwise Vortex. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 137(6)
- Katzenberg J & MacManus DG. (2015). Computational study of a complex three-dimensional shock boundary-layer interaction. Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 9(1)
- Roberts DA, MacManus DG, Johnson RA, Grove JE, Birch TJ, .... (2015). Passive Attenuation of Modal Cavity Aeroacoustics Under Supersonic and Transonic Conditions. AIAA Journal, 53(7)
- Roberts DA & MacManus DG. (2012). Passive Control of Transonic Cavity Aeroacoustics. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 134(11)
- Haas A, MacManus D & Estruch-Samper D. (2012). Heat transfer effects and topology of the viscous interaction induced by surface protuberances in hypersonic flow. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 226(8)
- Mifsud M, Estruch-Samper D, MacManus D, Chaplin R & Stollery J. (2012). A case study on the aerodynamic heating of a hypersonic vehicle. The Aeronautical Journal, 116(1183)
- Mishra N, MacManus DG & Murphy JP. (2011). Intake ground vortex characteristics. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 226(11)
- Chaplin R, MacManus D, Leopold F, Martinez B, Gauthier T, .... (2011). Computational and experimental investigation into aerodynamic interference between slender bodies in supersonic flow. Computers & Fluids, 50(1)
- Murphy JP & MacManus DG. (2011). Inlet ground vortex aerodynamics under headwind conditions. Aerospace Science and Technology, 15(3)
- Murphy JP & MacManus DG. (2011). Intake Ground Vortex Prediction Methods. Journal of Aircraft, 48(1)
- Chaplin R, MacManus D, Leopold F, Gauthier T, Martinez B, .... (2011). Experimental investigation into the interference aerodynamics of two slender bodies in close proximity. Experiments in Fluids, 50(2)
- Murphy JP & MacManus DG. (2011). Ground vortex aerodynamics under crosswind conditions. Experiments in Fluids, 50(1)
- Estruch D, MacManus DG, Richardson DP, Lawson NJ, Garry KP, .... (2010). Experimental study of unsteadiness in supersonic shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interactions with separation. The Aeronautical Journal, 114(1155)
- Zantopp S, MacManus D & Murphy J. (2010). Computational and experimental study of intake ground vortices. The Aeronautical Journal, 114(1162)
- Murphy JP, MacManus DG & Sheaf CT. (2010). Experimental Investigation of Intake Ground Vortices During Takeoff. AIAA Journal, 48(3)
- Estruch D, MacManus DG, Stollery JL, Lawson NJ & Garry KP. (2010). Hypersonic interference heating in the vicinity of surface protuberances. Experiments in Fluids, 49(3)
- Chaplin RA, MacManus DG & Birch TJ. (2010). Aerodynamic interference between high-speed slender bodies. Shock Waves, 20(2)
- Mifsud MJ, Shaw ST & MacManus DG. (2010). A high‐fidelity low‐cost aerodynamic model using proper orthogonal decomposition. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 63(4)
- Estruch D, Lawson NJ, MacManus DG, Garry KP & Stollery JL. (2009). Schlieren visualization of high-speed flows using a continuous LED light source. Journal of Visualization, 12(4)
- Estruch D, Lawson NJ, MacManus DG, Garry KP & Stollery JL. (2008). Measurement of shock wave unsteadiness using a high-speed schlieren system and digital image processing. Review of Scientific Instruments, 79(12)
- MacManus DG & Doran DS. (2008). Passive Control of Transonic Cavity Flow. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 130(6)
- Parish D & MacManus DG. (2005). Aerodynamic investigations of ventilated brake discs. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 219(4)
- MacMANUS DG & EATON JA. (2000). Flow physics of discrete boundary layer suction – measurements and predictions. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 417
- MacManus DG & Eaton JA. (1998). Measurement and Analysis of the Flowfields Induced by Suction Perforations. AIAA Journal, 36(9)
- MacManus DG & Eaton JA. (1996). Predictions and observations of the flow field induced by laminar flow control microperforations. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 13(4)
