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Simulation framework development for multidisciplinary design of novel propulsion systems for rotorcraft
No full textRotorcraft constitute highly flexible and versatile vehicles with a unique Vertical
Take-off and Landing (VTOL) capability that have been predominantly used for
medical, fire suppression, and police services. Increasing demands for fast, reliable,
and sustainable transportation gave rise to Urban Air Mobility (UAM), which is
a new emerging market within the aviation industry. In acknowledgment of its
forecasted growth, industry and academia are exploring novel UAM rotorcraft
and propulsion systems targeting sustainable solutions.
In this context, electrification, advanced cycles, hydrogen fuel and fuel cells are
some of the main propulsion technologies considered for UAM. These configurations
introduce new degrees of freedom and hence, the relevance of adopting new design
and control strategies becomes evident. Effective evaluation of these technologies
integrated within rotorcraft is of vital importance in preliminary design phases.
Consequently, the adoption of multidisciplinary approaches to quantify their
impact and utility is deemed a prerequisite.
This work elaborates on the development and application of a multidisciplinary
methodology for the design, optimization and assessment of integrated novel
rotorcraft-powerplant architectures. The approach comprises a series of modelling
methods including rotor aerodynamics, flight dynamics, engine performance,
gaseous emissions prediction, electric powertrain performance, weight estimation,
and mission analysis, which are validated individually and integrated into a
framework.
Through the utilization of the developed framework, the aspect of optimal
design and assessment of each of those technologies for a generic tilt-rotor is
tackled in this work. A holistic method for designing parallel hybrid-electric
systems for rotorcraft with implicit consideration of power management optimization
is developed providing new guidelines for the design and operation of such
systems. A comprehensive investigation of the potential use of electrification as an
enabler for recuperated cycles is deployed and the associated trade-offs between
performance and gaseous emissions are quantified. The potential use of hydrogen
fuel in a gas turbine or a fuel cell for rotorcraft is investigated and its effects on
overall performance, mission economy and thermal management system weight
are evaluated. An integrated approach is deployed for the derivation of optimized
schedules for variable rotor speed and power management strategy offering new
insight into optimal rotor and engine control allocation for rotorcraft.
The contribution to knowledge arising from the successful completion of this
work comprises both the development of methodologies for rotorcraft-powerplant
design and assessment, as well as the synthesis and classification of the investigated
technologies in terms of their potential to reduce fuel, energy, CO₂, and NOX as
well as to sustain payload-range capacity. It is demonstrated that parallel hybridelectric
architectures are more favourable for Air Taxi operations (short ranges)
with the recuperated hybrid resulting to the highest potential benefit relative to
the conventional tilt-rotor. The hydrogen-based solutions on the other hand are
proven to be more relevant for Air Metro operations (long ranges). Finally, the
use of variable rotor speed offers significant benefits and can be combined with all
the above architectures making this concept an attractive solution for both Air
Metro and Air Taxi operations.PhD in Aerospac
Design and analysis of sandwich structure for the application on FAR25 wing
No full textJamshidi, Jafar - Associate SupervisorWith the growing concern towards global warming and increase in fuel prices,
many countries advocate stringent environmental laws to restrict any further
damage to the environment. The new laws will affect how the future vehicles are
designed. The aerospace industry is also one of the main contributors of pollution.
To design better fuel-efficient aeroplanes, aero industry is switching to weight
efficient materials. Since last few decades the aerospace industry is shifting from
isotropic materials to composite materials to design weight efficient structures.
The structures made up of composite materials are mostly in two different forms
such as monolithic composite materials used on primary structures and
composite sandwich materials which are commonly seen on the secondary
structures.
The research aims at investigating the sandwich structure as the potential
material for the application on FAR25 type wing primary structure. The transport
category airplanes with greater than 19 sets or the maximum take of weight
(MTOW) is greater than 8618kg are referred to FAR25 type aeroplanes. In the
first phase of the research, the focus is to assess the literature to find research
gaps within the sandwich structures along with feedback from Airbus Research
and Technology (R&T). In second phase, the focus is to investigate the stiffened
panel design which is based on the current Airbus single aisle aeroplane. The
review of sandwich structures and its current application on FAR25 structures
along with the current research and development of sandwich material
technology is conducted. The different failure modes of the sandwich structures
are also investigated.
In the third phase, parametric study and optimization of stiffened panel and
sandwich panel is performed within the range of operational loads. In addition,
the influence of core properties in improving the structural efficiency of sandwich
structure is investigated. The research also focused on understanding the
efficiency of different sandwich joints. In the final phase of the research the study
looks into the design of hybrid/variable stiffness core to help tailoring core
properties to improve the structural efficiency of sandwich panel.
The research study demonstrated the importance of core properties in designing
the efficient sandwich panel as potential material for the application on FAR25
primary structure. Investigation of novel variable core design has demonstrated
how the tailoring of core properties can influence the overall performance of
sandwich structure so that the core can be tailored as per different application.
From the research it has shown that the sandwich core with single property
structure can be still used on secondary structure whereas the tailored core
design for the primary structure on FAR25 type aeroplanes. It is also shown that
a better manufacturing process can add considerable value for sandwich
materials.PhD in Aerospac
Data relating to "Li-S cell partial charge-discharge"
No full textThis data file includes partial charge and discharge measurements of a 19 Ah Li-S cell subject to MLTB duty cycle.Faraday Institutio
Design of an automated OpenFOAM workflow for external-aerodynamics simulation
No full textMcLaren AutomotiveThe central research question of this thesis is: Can the aerodynamic simulation workflow for automotive applications be fully automated using open-source tools such as Open- FOAM, while maintaining accuracy and mesh quality suitable for engineering evaluation? This question is significant in the automotive sector, where highly competitive development cycles demand rapid, cost-effective aerodynamic testing across multiple geometries. Traditional manual workflows limit the number of design iterations, whereas automation offers the potential to increase throughput while reducing human error and operational costs. The workflow developed in this project integrates Python scripting to automatically generate OpenFOAM case files from YAML configuration inputs. The meshing pro- cess leverages SnappyHexMesh, and simulations were performed using simpleFoam, potentialFoam, and turbulence models including k-ε, k-ω, and laminar flows. Post- processing was conducted using ParaFOAM, allowing automated extraction of aerodynamic coefficients. This approach was successfully applied to three benchmark cases: the AeroSUV, unitCube, and Ahmed Body, demonstrating the feasibility of a fully automated simulation pipeline. Key challenges were observed in the meshing stage, where SnappyHexMesh presented limitations in achieving consistently high-quality meshes, particularly in regions requiring refined boundary layers. In commercial workflows, tools like ANSA provide more robust control over mesh quality; however, their unavailability during this project necessitated fully open-source solutions. As such, the developed workflow stands as a proof of concept: it successfully automates the aerodynamic simulation process, reduces manual setup time, and enables testing of multiple geometries, but further refinement of mesh control and integration with advanced tools would be required for production-level deployment.MSc in Computational Fluid Dynamic
Post-quantum cryptography and nature-inspired cyber defense: strategic readiness and adaptive techniques for next-gen threat response
No full textThe emergence of quantum computing poses a transformative challenge to established cybersecurity protocols and traditional cryptographic systems, necessitating an urgent transition toward post-quantum cryptography. As quantum threats evolve from theoretical possibilities to practical risks, governments and industrial sectors are increasingly compelled to develop strategies for adopting quantum-resistant algorithms. This paper evaluates the global landscape of post-quantum security, with a specialized focus on the defense strategies adopted by technologically advanced nations. It investigates the efforts of these countries to construct quantum-resilient security architectures while addressing the distinct technical and resource constraints faced by developing nations. A primary contribution of this research is the analysis of the Industry Readiness Assessment Survey, which evaluates organizational awareness and technical preparedness within the specific context of India’s digital and regulatory environment. The findings highlight the critical importance of mitigating “harvest now, decrypt later” threats through international cooperation and the development of sovereign transition plans. By synthesizing empirical survey data with strategic policy analysis, this paper provides a roadmap for securing national interests and ensuring long-term data integrity against future quantum computational capabilities.IEEE Acces
Underwater skimming improves retention and degradation of Cryptosporidium oocysts in slow sand filters
Full text linkCryptosporidium oocysts are resilient protozoan pathogens that resist conventional disinfection, posing significant challenges to drinking water quality. Filtration processes like slow sand filters (SSFs) effectively remove these oocysts, but limited data exist on their fate in SSFs, particularly following maintenance practices such as skimming. This study examined the spatial and temporal distribution of inactivated Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in pilot-scale SSF operated under two skimming regimes: dry skimming and underwater skimming. The underwater skim approach offers benefits in terms of production volume gains and reduced downtime, but pathogen removal has not been comprehensively assessed using this approach. Across two 4-day dosing periods, oocyst breakthrough was lower under UWS (UWS: 7.6 % vs DS: 47.0 % of filtrate samples were positive for oocysts). In addition, core samples were collected at six time points to track oocyst retention and vertical migration. In both underwater skim and dry skim slow sand filters, most oocysts were captured in the top 100 mm of the filter, gradually moving downward over time. Notably, underwater skim filters retained more oocysts in the upper layers than dry skim filters, resulting in lower breakthrough frequency. Although skimming did remove some oocysts in both regimes, the majority were rendered undetectable in situ through processes such as predation, enzymatic digestion, and natural decay—evidenced by the increasing proportion of oocyst-like bodies and their near-complete absence from the filtrate. Thus, underwater skim is a viable alternative to dry skim for Cryptosporidium removal, sustaining filter performance by trapping oocysts in the upper layers and maintaining similar rates of oocyst degradation. These insights support improved SSF maintenance strategies that enhance pathogen removal.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), through PhD award to Sophie Bretagne (EP/T518104/1), and support from Thames Water.Cleaner Engineering and Technolog
Assessing peat surface motion using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) in the Great Fen area of Cambridgeshire, UK
No full textPeatland degradation is a critical global climate issue, releasing millions of tonnes of CO2 annually due to drainage and changes in land use. As countries strive to meet net-zero targets, restoring degraded peatlands has become a priority for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. However, monitoring peatland recovery remains a challenge, especially for large-scale restoration projects. This research is driven by the need for low-cost validation of peatland re-wetting schemes, enabling robust monitoring of peat physical condition and hydrological recovery, with implications for carbon accounting and agriculture’s contribution to net-zero targets. This study addresses this gap by applying remote sensing data from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to track peat surface motion in Cambridgeshire's Great Fen, one of the UK’s largest lowland peatland restoration initiatives. Sentinel-1 InSAR data (2015–2025) were used to quantify ground motion and derive deformation-based proxies for peat carbon flux. Our analysis revealed distinct subsidence patterns for undrained, early-restored, and later-restored farms, enabling first-order, deformation-based carbon flux estimation under common parameter assumptions. Early-restored farms experienced subsidence rates of up to 1.17 cm/year and deformation-associated carbon flux proxies of 14.50 tons CO2/ha/year, compared to 1.40 cm/year and 17.37 tons CO2/ha/year in later-restored sites. National Nature Reserves (Holme Fen and Woodwalton), which remained undrained, recorded the lowest subsidence (∼0.48 cm/year) and lowest deformation-associated carbon loss proxy (5.98 tons CO2/ha/year), linked to restoration timelines and peat moisture regimes. These estimates, interpreted as relative indicators rather than direct measurements of net ecosystem carbon balance, demonstrate InSAR’s utility for tracking peatland condition and relative peat carbon vulnerability across restoration timelines. Seasonal fluctuations aligned with soil moisture and precipitation anomalies, indicating a strong hydrological control on peat surface motion. Together, these findings show that InSAR provides a high-resolution, cost-effective tool for continuous monitoring of peatland physical dynamics, supporting comparative assessment of restoration outcomes and climate-relevant land management decisions.Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environmen
Integrated assessment of parallel hybrid electric aircraft propulsion architectures
No full textBacic, Marko - Industrial Supervisor
Norman, Justin - Industrial SupervisorAdvisory Council for Aeronautical Research in Europe (ACARE) has published
ambitious goals for reduction in emissions from aircraft applications by the year 2050.
Hybrid-electric and alternative fuelled powerplants have been proposed as one of the
major solutions to resolve this problem.
There has been significant industrial push to build and test viable hybrid-electric
propulsion systems onboard aircraft and certify them for flight, with Rolls-Royce
ACCEL, Airbus E-Fan X and Boeing SUGAR VOLT being some recent examples.
Despite this, there exists significant uncertainty around the potential fuel burn
benefits from these architectures across the different aircraft classes, the impact on
gas turbine design, thermal management and aircraft integration, as well as fleet
technology penetration. The work in open literature has focussed on individual
aspects mentioned above but no study was found considering all these aspects in
a common design and optimization loop. The aim of this thesis is to develop
robust integrated design and optimization methods, to help industry examine future
application scenarios in a more objective, systematic and therefore, more cost-effective
manner.
The regional to single aircraft design space is explored with ATR 72, Fokker 100
and A320 being the baseline aircraft platforms. Initially, a design space exploration is
performed for the Fokker 100 style airframe utilizing lithium ion batteries in a parallel
hybrid configuration. The impact of hybrid gas turbine cycle redesign strategies are
benchmarked and compared to retrofit hybrid gas turbine. A power management
optimization loop is set up to optimize the power split for varying battery pack sizes
and motor powers on different mission ranges. This sweep is also performed for varying
technology levels on gas turbine, motor power density and battery energy density. It
is demonstrated that the benefit from electrification improves with improvement in
gas turbine technology level.
The integrated hybrid gas turbine cycle design and power management optimization
ANN method is applied to all three aircraft platforms for EIS 2035 time frame.
The optimal power management strategies favour take-off and initial climb for redesigned
gas turbines while they favour cruise for retrofit gas turbines. Incorporation
of direct operating cost modules show retrofit hybrid systems having a lower direct
operating cost as compared to redesigned hybrid systems owing to reduced gas turbine
maintenance cost. The multi-mission method is applied to the test cases showing the
penalty paid in carrying a fixed battery pack.
Two thermal management architectures, ram air-liquid coolant heat exchanger
and vapour compression cycles are utilized to reject the heat load from the electrical
systems. The design space of both the systems are first explored for varying levels on
quantity of heat load, quality of heat load and flight mission conditions. The method
to integrate optimal combinations of thermal management architectures in terms
of, coolant mass flow rate, condenser pinch, condenser geometry and compressor
pressure ratio is utilized and applied to different propulsion configurations. The full
framework is also expanded to include proton exchange membrane fuel cells and
hydrogen-powered gas turbines.
A final technological assessment is performed for the regional ATR 72 style aircraft
platform for both thermal management architectures. A pure electric, battery and fuel
cell powered aircraft with an optimal power split is identified as a suitable candidate
against kerosene and hydrogen powered gas turbines to power EIS 2035 regional
turboprop. While for single-aisle applications, there is a case for mild hybridization
to reduce NOx and improve gas turbine operability at part load settings.PhD in Aerospac
Development of a novel and effective postharvest decision support system (DSS) for stored cereals to minimise mould spoilage and mycotoxins in food
No full textCereal grains are widely consumed for their nutritional value as food and feed,
and are essential in the food supply chain. However, changing climatic conditions
have made these crops increasingly susceptible to fungal attacks, elevating the
risk of contamination by mycotoxins—often referred to as "invisible mould
poison." This can threaten grain safety and quality, posing health risks to humans
and animals, and contributing to food insecurity and economic instability.
This thesis examines the effects of different abiotic factors (water activity- aw and
temperature) on the ratios of regulated and conjugated mycotoxin concentrations
in naturally contaminated and irradiated wheat grains inoculated with Fusarium
graminearum. Contaminated samples were analysed with Liquid
Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside
concentrations were significantly different from its precursor deoxynivalenol at
0.93 aw (22% moisture content- MC) at 25 °C in the naturally contaminated wheat
with a ratio proportion of 56:44, respectively.
This research further investigates the effects of different aw and temperature on
CO2 production, fungal growth, and mycotoxin contamination in mini-silos of
grains. It hypothesizes an integrated sensing approach (combining CO₂,
temperature, and relative humidity measurements) as a decision support system
(DSS) tool in real-time monitoring of CO₂ produced in stored grains would predict
risks of mycotoxin contamination exceeding legislative limits.
Findings show that in naturally contaminated and inoculated (Penicillium
verrucosum and Fusarium langsethiae) wheat and oat grains, respectively, an
increase in aw significantly increased the respiration rates (RR) and mycotoxin
(ochratoxins, type A trichothecenes and their conjugate concentrations. Their
legislative limits were exceeded at ≥ 0.80 aw (16% MC) with RR ≥ 15 µg CO₂ kg¯¹ h¯¹ .
This research provides novel preliminary data for stored wheat and oats that can
combine with other pre-harvest modules to develop a cost-effective DSS tool to
improve grain storage management.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)PhD in Environment and Agrifoo
The evolution of fixed wing aircraft handling qualities during the first fifty years
No full textAlam, Mushfiqul - Associate SupervisorThe study investigates the evolution of the handling qualities of British aircraft
between 1910 and 1950. In this era, before the implementation of rigorous
airworthiness requirements, many aircraft were deficient in some form or another
by modern standards. Such deficiencies may not be anticipated or understood by
today’s pilots who wish to fly old aircraft and this can result in mishandling, loss
of control and ultimately accidents.
This study uses a combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative judgements
from historical sources to investigate vintage aircraft flying qualities. It includes
analysis which makes a novel contribution to this area of aeronautics.
Contemporaneous pilot accounts reveal that the understanding of the ‘mechanics
of flight’ was generally poor. Legacy flight instructor handbooks show that early
flying ‘folklore’ tends to outlive its usefulness and also reveal deficiencies in
stability and control in the contemporary training aircraft.
An analysis was conducted using a group of 41 aircraft, which formed a
representative example of British aircraft of the era. The longitudinal, directional
and lateral, stability and control parameters were estimated using generic
equations and known aircraft geometry.
Today’s certification specifications are used as a benchmark against which the
vintage aircraft1 in this study are assessed for non-compliances. This analysis
shows an inverse near-linear relationship between the year of design of an
aircraft and the number of deficiencies it exhibits.
Other factors that can affect handling qualities including the cockpit interface, and
the aircraft environment are discussed. An analysis of these factors is made to
highlight the higher risk areas when flying the vintage aircraft of the era.
1 In this thesis the expression ‘vintage aircraft’ refers to aircraft which were originally designed
during the period 1900-1950.
The findings are used to develop guidance for a modern pilot2 , planning to fly a
strange vintage aircraft for the first time.
2 For the purposes of this study a ‘modern pilot’ is one who has been trained using aircraft
certificated to modern certification standards or their military equivalent.MSc by Research in Aerospac