Propeller-Wing Wake Interactions for Urban Air Mobility Systems

About the Project

Would you like to continue your academic journey with a PhD in Aerospace Engineering? A 3.5-year fully funded PhD studentship (competition-funded) is available in the group of Dr Chandan Bose within the Aerospace Engineering division, School of Metallurgy and Materials, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham. We invite applications from highly motivated individuals interested in fluid dynamics, especially fluid-structure interaction.

Project Details:

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) concepts, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, rely on tightly integrated propeller–wing configurations to enable vertical lift, transition flight, and efficient cruise. In such systems, the unsteady wakes generated by rotating propellers interact directly with nearby lifting surfaces, producing complex flow phenomena such as wake impingement, vortex–boundary-layer interaction, transient load amplification, and potential aeroelastic response. These effects can significantly influence aerodynamic efficiency, structural integrity, control authority, and overall vehicle performance, yet they remain insufficiently understood due to their inherently unsteady and multi-physics nature.

This PhD project focuses on the high-fidelity computational investigation of propeller–wing wake interactions in UAM configurations, with particular emphasis on unsteady aerodynamics and fluid–structure interaction (FSI). The research will combine the development and application of in-house CFD and FSI solvers with established open-source computational fluid dynamics frameworks, such as OpenFOAM. The overarching aim is to advance predictive modelling of propeller–wing interactions and to generate physical insights that can inform the design of next-generation UAM vehicles.

The research will characterise the structure and evolution of propeller wakes and their interaction with wings operating within the slipstream. Attention will be given to the influence of propeller placement, rotation rate, advance ratio, and wing incidence on unsteady aerodynamic loading. Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying dominant vortical structures, their impingement on lifting surfaces, and the resulting temporal variations in pressure, lift, and moment coefficients.

A core component of the project will be the development and validation of high-fidelity CFD–FSI models. Rotating propellers will be represented using advanced numerical methods, such as immersed boundary methods, overset meshes, or actuator-based models, depending on the required level of fidelity. These aerodynamic models will be coupled with structural representations of flexible wings or control surfaces to enable two-way fluid–structure interaction simulations, thereby capturing aeroelastic effects induced by propeller wakes accurately.

The project will also investigate the structural response of wings subjected to unsteady propeller-induced loading. This will include analysis of transient deformation, vibration, and load amplification, as well as identification of operating conditions that may give rise to fatigue-critical behaviour or resonance-like responses. Such analysis is particularly relevant for lightweight, flexible structures commonly envisaged in UAM vehicle designs.

From a computational perspective, the PhD will involve the use and further development of in-house solvers and open-source tools, with a strong emphasis on numerical verification, validation, and robustness. Large-scale unsteady simulations will be performed on high-performance computing platforms, including parallel CPU- and GPU-based systems, providing the student with extensive experience in scalable scientific computing and performance-aware code development.

The expected outcomes of the project include a validated computational framework for propeller–wing wake interaction problems, new physical understanding of unsteady aerodynamic and aeroelastic phenomena relevant to UAM systems, and design-oriented insights for propeller placement, wing stiffness, and operational envelopes. The work is expected to lead to high-quality journal publications and contribute reusable computational tools and methodologies to the broader CFD and FSI research community.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate should have a first-class undergraduate or master's degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or a related discipline at the time of taking up the position, ideally commencing in September 2024. You would be highly motivated and able to work independently and collaborate with others, with effective written and oral communication skills.

The ideal candidate should be familiar with computational fluid dynamics principles, partial differential equations, specifically the Navier-Stokes equation and solid mechanics equations, pre- and post-processing tools (for geometry preparation, meshing, etc.). Prior experience with programming (C++/Python) and working with open-source CFD codes, such as OpenFOAM, will be advantageous.

If successful, you will join a dynamic team of highly engaged, enthusiastic, and productive researchers. You will become a key member of the Bio-Inspired Fluid-Structure Interaction Laboratory and will be supervised by Dr Chandan Bose (Aerospace Engineering, School of Metallurgy & Materials, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences).

How to apply:

The application will be made through the university’s online application system (https://sits.bham.ac.uk/lpages/EPS024.htm). Please provide a cover letter summarising your research interests and suitability for the position, the contact information of two referees, and a curriculum vitae. It is recommended to contact Dr Chandan Bose (c.bose@bham.ac.uk) with your CV before you apply.

Funding notes:

A 3.5-year fully funded PhD studentship (competition-funded) is available in the group of Dr Chandan Bose within the Aerospace Engineering division, School of Metallurgy and Materials at the University of Birmingham, with a standard EPSRC-funded PhD stipend.