Research and work areas of the Institute

Numerical simulation of the vortexes for an aircraft in take off

The Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology is a leading research institute in the field of aerodynamics/aeroacoustics of airplanes and aerothermodynamics of space vehicles. It has two main sites at Braunschweig and Göttingen and has a division at Cologne. 159 Scienttists - the total personal is 232 - are engaged in numerical and experimental investigations on air- and space vehicles. Experiments are performed in wind tunnels and in flight.

The institute coordinates its efforts with the German/European Aerospace industry and with a large number of universities. It is acting as a link between the basic research at the universities and industrial application. This results in a large number of cooperative national/European research projects.

• Software Development
  • CFD/CAA Methods (Physical Models, Flow Solvers, Grid Generation)
  • Aerodynamic Design and Optimisation Techniques (Stochastik/Deterministic Methods, Adjoint Method)
  • Integration of Disciplines (Structure, Flight Mechanics)
  • Aircraft Design / MDO
  • Verification and Validation
  • Software Support

• Aircraft Aerodynamics
  • Numerical and Experimental Analysis, Design and Optimisation
  • Wake-Vortex Interactions
  • High-Lift Systems, Engine-Integration
  • Fluid-Structure-Coupling
• Aircraft Design and Assessment
  • Assessment of Technologies and of the Complete Aircraft
  • Tools from Handbook Methods to High-Fidelity Techniques

• Experimental Methods
  • Wind Tunnel Investigations (Aerodynamic Derivatives, High-Lift Configurations, Airframe-Engine Integration, Low Drag Configurations)
  • Aircraft Models
  • Development / Application of Measurement Systems (e.g. Infrared Transition Detection)
  • Inflight Testing
  • System Competence for Laminar Flow Technology

• Military Aircraft
  • Assessment and Design of Configurations (Transporter, Stealth Technology, UAV)
  • Maneuvering Aircraft

• Helicopter Aerodynamics
  • Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Flow Phenomena
  • Fluid-Structure-Coupling

• High-Speed-Configurations
  • Design, Analysis and Optimisation of Supersonic Aircraft
  • Hypersonic Missiles

• Spacecraft
  • Aerodynamic and Aero-Thermodynamic Analysis of Spacecraft
  • Fluid-Structure-Coupling
  • Analysis of Satellite Control Engines

• Aeroacoustics
  • Noise Measurements
  • Noise Prediction (Airframe, Propeller, Helicopter)
  • Aeroacoustic Design
  • Development of Noise Reduction Techniques
  • Prediction and calculation of noise emissions due to traffic

• Technical Flows
  • Automotive Aerodynamics
  • Landing Gear Analysis
  • ICE Train Passing
  • Automotive Cooling Fans
  • Wind Turbine Design
  • Aircraft Cabin Flows

• Flow Measurement Technology
  • Field Measurement Methods (PIV, LDA, BOOT, Rayleigh)
  • Surface Measurement Methods (PSP, TSP, Moire)
  • Flow Visualisation Techniques (Surface Oil Flow, Smoke Wire Flow, Hotfilm, Hotwire, Laser Light Sheet, Liquid Crystal Techniques, Hydrogen Bubble Flow, BOS, BOSS)

• Acoustic Measurement Technology
  • Acoustic Flight Testing Techniques (e.g. Helicopter Blades)
  • Ground Microphone Array
  • Acoustic Mirror
  • Acoustic Wind Tunnel (AWB)

• Hardware
  • Wind Tunnel Models
  • Measurement Sensors (Free Flight Tow Sensors, Wake Rakes, Hot Film, Hot Wire Anemometry, Steady/unsteady pressure measurements)
  • Measurement Equipment (Computer, Datenrekorder, Infrarotkameras, Hochgeschwindigkeits Schlieren Kamera, PIV Systeme, Akustische Spiegel, Mikrophonfelder, Derivative Balance)
  • Wind- and Water Tunnels: HEG, 1MG, TUG, WSG