Contact Professor Howard Smith
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758387
- Email: Howard.Smith@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Aircraft Design
Background
Professor Howard Smith has particular interests in advanced aircraft configuration design, the design of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and aircraft static loads analysis. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Senior Member of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He was recently awarded a Boeing Welliver Faculty Fellowship, a position previously given to only one non-US citizen since 1995.
Current activities
Howard is head of the Aircraft Design Group at Cranfield University. His multidisciplinary team excels at the integration of technologies, such as structures, airframe systems and avionics, to find solutions to aviation related challenges such as the environment, defence and airline operations. He has been responsible for the creation of a wide range of innovative aircraft concept studies.
Howard currently teaches aircraft conceptual design and aircraft loads analysis to graduate students from all over the world. The unique approach to teaching emphasises learning and assessment through immersion in virtual industrial team projects. The scale of the projects initiated is probably unique in the academic world and attracts interest from aerospace manufacturers and operators alike.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Zammit K, Smith H, Lobo NS & Giannopoulos IK. (2024). Vortex lattice CFD application and modeling validation for ground effect aircraft. WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON FLUID MECHANICS, 19
- Zammit K, Smith H, Lobo NS & Giannopoulos IK. (2024). Bioinspired genetic-algorithm optimized ground-effect wing design: flight performance benefits and aircraft stability effects. WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON FLUID MECHANICS, 19
- Taflan M, Smith H & Loughlan J. (2024). Structural sizing and mass estimation of transport aircraft wings with distributed, hydrogen, and electric propulsions. The Aeronautical Journal, 129(1333)
- Kang L, Sun Y, Smith H & Mao J. (2023). The effects of the degree of hybridisation on the design of hybrid-electric aircraft considering the balance between energy efficiency and mass penalty. Aerospace, 10(2)
- Kang L, Sun Y & Smith H. (2022). MDAO method and optimum designs of hybrid-electric civil airliners. Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 35(4)
- Sun Y & Smith H. (2022). Conceptual design of sonic boom stealth supersonic transports. CEAS Aeronautical Journal, 13(2)
- Wei C, Lin G, Huang J, Song L & Smith H. (2022). Flight testing verification of lateral-directional dynamic stability of gliding birds due to wing dihedral. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 94(11)
- Sun Y & Smith H. (2021). Design and operational assessment of a low-boom low-drag supersonic business jet. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 236(1)
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2020). Experimental analysis of small solar ummanned aerial vehicle to predict aerodynamic performance. INCAS BULLETIN, 12(4)
- Giannopoulos IK, Grafton K, Guo S & Smith H. (2020). Damage tolerance of CFRP airframe bolted joints in bearing, following bolt pull-through failure. Composites Part B: Engineering, 185
- Fernández AM & Smith H. (2020). Effect of a fuselage boundary layer ingesting propulsor on airframe forces and moments. Aerospace Science and Technology, 100
- Sun Y & Smith H. (2019). Low-boom low-drag solutions through the evaluation of different supersonic business jet concepts. The Aeronautical Journal, 124(1271)
- Sun Y & Smith H. (2019). Low-boom low-drag optimization in a multidisciplinary design analysis optimization environment. Aerospace Science and Technology, 94
- Sepulveda Palacios E & Smith H. (2019). Impact of mission requirements on the design of low observable UCAV configurations. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 91(10)
- Gomeza A & Smith H. (2019). Liquid hydrogen fuel tanks for commercial aviation: structural sizing and stress analysis. Aerospace Science and Technology, 95
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2018). Experimental Assessment of Various Batteries and Propellers for Small Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Journal of Engineering and Technological Sciences, 50(3)
- Sepulveda E, Smith H & Sziroczak D. (2018). Multidisciplinary analysis of subsonic stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles. CEAS Aeronautical Journal, 10(2)
- Smith H, Sziroczak D, Abbe G & Okonkwo P. (2018). The GENUS aircraft conceptual design environment. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 233(8)
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2018). Development of design methodology for a small solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle. International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2018(1)
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2018). Sensitivity analysis of design parameters of a small solar-powered electric unmanned aerial vehicle. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology, 13(12)
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2018). Experimental Study of Solar Module & Maximum Power Point Tracking System under Controlled Temperature Conditions. International Journal on Advanced Science, Engineering and Information Technology, 8(4)
- Sepulveda Palacios E & Smith H. (2017). Technology challenges of stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles. The Aeronautical Journal, 121(1243)
- Sun Y & Smith H. (2016). Review and prospect of supersonic business jet design. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 90(April)
- Sziroczak D & Smith H. (2016). A review of design issues specific to hypersonic flight vehicles. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 84(July)
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2016). Modelling of solar irradiance and daylight duration for solar-powered UAV sizing. Energy Exploration & Exploitation, 34(2)
- Abbe G & Smith H. (2016). Technological development trends in Solar‐powered Aircraft Systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 60
- Okonkwo P & Smith H. (2016). Review of evolving trends in blended wing body aircraft design. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 82
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2015). Review of Solar and Battery Power System Development for Solar-Powered Electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Advanced Materials Research, 1125
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2015). Future Trend Analysis on the Design and Performance of Solar-Powered Electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Advanced Materials Research, 1125
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2015). Implications of longitude and latitude on the size of solar-powered UAV. Energy Conversion and Management, 98
- Manzanera RAJ & Smith H. (2015). Flight in nature I: Take-off in animal flyers. The Aeronautical Journal, 119(1213)
- Manzanera RAJ & Smith SH. (2015). Flight in nature II: How animal flyers land. The Aeronautical Journal, 119(1213)
- Smith H. (2014). Airframe integration for an LH2 hybrid-electric propulsion system. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 86(6)
- Linares C, Lawson CP & Smith H. (2013). Multidisciplinary optimisation framework for minimum rotorcraft fuel and air pollutants at mission level. The Aeronautical Journal, 117(1193)
- Fielding JP, Mills A & Smith H. (2010). Design and manufacture of the DEMON unmanned air vehicle demonstrator vehicle. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 224(4)
- Chudoba B, Coleman G, Smith H & Cook MV. (2008). Generic stability and control for aerospace flight vehicle conceptual design. The Aeronautical Journal, 112(1132)
- Smith H. (2007). A review of supersonic business jet design Issues. The Aeronautical Journal, 111(1126)
- Smith H. (2007). The self-regenerating engineering design course: A top-down approach. International Journal of Engineering Education, 23(1)
- Smith H. (2001). U‐99 uninhabited tactical aircraft preliminary systems design. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 73(3)
- Smith H. (2001). U‐99 uninhabited tactical aircraft preliminary structural design. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 73(1)
- Smith H. (1997). Advanced short take‐off vertical landing combat aircraft: part 2 ‐ the powerplant installation. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 69(1)
- Smith H. (1997). Systems design for an advanced short take‐off vertical landing combat aircraft ‐ Part 3. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 69(2)
- Smith H. (1996). A virtual industrial environment. Engineering Designer, 22(5)
- Smith H. (1996). The structural design of an advanced short take‐off vertical landing combat aircraft — part 1. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 68(6)
Conference Papers
- Chan JL, Sun Y & Smith H. (2024). High Aspect Ratio Wing Airliner Conceptual Designs for the Application of Alternative Fuels
- Chan JL, Sun Y & Smith H. (2024). Conceptual Designs of Blended Wing Body Aircraft for the Application of Alternative Fuels
- Lyu S, Sun Y, Chan JL & Smith H. (2024). Blended Wing Body Aircraft Conceptual Design Optimisation With Nonlinear Multi-Fidelity Aerodynamic Surrogate Model
- Chun Chan JL, Sun Y & Smith H. (2024). PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS BETWEEN DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND NOVEL AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS
- Taflan M, Smith H & Loughlan J. (2023). Parametric analysis for structural design and weight estimation of cantilever and strut-braced wing-boxes
- Chan J, Sun Y & Smith H. (2023). Airliner conceptual designs for the application of alternative fuels
- Taflan M, Smith H & Loughlan J. (2023). Correction: Parametric Analysis for Structural Design and Weight Estimation of Cantilever and Strut-Braced Wing-Boxes
- Gao Z & Smith H. (2020). Blended wing body with boundary layer ingestion conceptual design in a multidisciplinary design analysis optimization environment
- Smith H & Sun Y. (2020). Design case of the E-19 AEOLUS supersonic business jet
- Sun Y, Smith H & Chen H. (2020). Conceptual design of low-boom low-drag supersonic transports
- Smith H & Sun Y. (2020). Withdrawal: Design Case of the E-19 AEOLUS Supersonic Business Jet
- Sun Y & Smith H. (2018). Supersonic business jet conceptual design in a multidisciplinary design analysis optimization environment
- Sepulveda E & Smith H. (2018). Conceptual design of a fifth generation unmanned strike fighter
- Sun Y & Smith H. (2018). Sonic boom and drag evaluation of supersonic jet concepts
- Wenqing X, Zhuoyi D & Smith H. (2018). Feasibility study of modifying a baseline kerosene aircraft to a LH2 powered version
- Rajendran P, Mazlan NM & Smith H. (2017). Single cell Li-Ion polymer battery charge and discharge characterizations for application on solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle
- Rajendran P & Smith H. (2014). The Development of a Small Solar Powered Electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems
- Rajendran P, Smith H & bin Masral MH. (2014). Modeling and Simulation of Solar Irradiance and Daylight Duration for a High-Power-Output Solar Module System
- Fielding JP, Stocking P & Smith H. (2010). Comparison of fuel burn and noise characteristics of novel aircraft configurations
- Fielding J, Smith H & Stocking P. (2010). Cranfield Graduate Aircraft Design Education
- Mistry S, Smith H & Fielding JP. (2008). Novel design concepts for aircraft with reduced noise and global warming charactoristics
- Mistry S, Smith H & Fielding J. (2007). Development of Novel Aircraft Concepts to Reduce Noise and Global Warming Effects
- Chudoba B & Smith H. (2003). A Generic Stability and Control Methodology for Novel Aircraft Conceptual Design
- Loughlan J, Thompson SP & Smith H. (2002). Buckling control using embedded shape memory actuators and the utilisation of smart technology in future aerospace platforms
- Woodford S & Smith H. (1998). The minimization of combat aircraft life cycle costs through conceptual design optimization
- Fielding JP & Smith H. (1997). Studies in generic, specific and particular conceptual designs of combat aircraft
- Siegers F & Smith H. (1995). Numerical synthesis methodology for conceptual design of new generations of combat aircraft
- Okonkwo P & Smith H. Packaging in a Multi Conceptual Design Synthesis of a BWB Aircraft
- Smith H, zammit K & lobo N. Bioinspired Genetic-Algorithm Optimised Ground-Effect Wing Design: Flight Performance Benefits and Aircraft Stability Effects
Books
- Smith H. (2012). Innovation in supersonic passenger air travel In Young T & Hirst M (eds), Innovation in Aeronautics. Woodhead Publishing.
- Young TM, Hirst M, Bar-Cohen Y, Guiler RW, Hamburg SD, .... (2012). Contributor contact details In Innovation in Aeronautics. Elsevier.
- Smith H. (2012). Innovation in supersonic passenger air travel In Innovation in Aeronautics. Elsevier.
- Young TM & Hirst M. (2012). Innovation in aeronautics In Innovation in Aeronautics. Woodhead Publishing Limited.
- Mistry S, Smith H & Fielding JP. (2009). Commercial Aircraft Design for Reduced Noise and Environmental Impact In Buttazzo G & Frediani A (eds), Springer Optimization and Its Applications (33). Springer New York.
