Air Vehicles Defence Research Summer Vacation Scholarships

Here are the Air Vehicles projects for Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Scholarships. DSTO is offering 68 university students $4,050 tax-free each for a 12-week research project in the Summer Vacation Scholarship Program. Applications can be made online and close 19 July 2009, with the projects running from late November 2009 to mid February 2010 accross Australia.

The Projects

AVD 01 Advanced Fibre Composite Antennas

The student will assist in the design and manufacture of composite slotted waveguide antennas to support the activities of Task NAV 07/058. As part of this project, the student will work closely with DSTO and RMIT scientists on antenna feed geometries, antenna element geometries, manufacturing of composite antennas and measurement techniques.

The design and computational modeling of feed geometries and antenna elements. The manufacture of waveguide components from advanced fibre composites. The measurement of RF and mechanical properties of composite waveguide components. The design and manufacture of test fixtures or tools to support the manufacture and measurement of the waveguide components. Electromagnetic theory. Antenna design. Computational electrodynamics. Advanced composite technologies. Materials Engineering has experience with electromagnetic modeling software packages such as CST or FEKO. has experience with Matlab. is capable and interested in working in the laboratory (manufacturing composite antenna components) as well as on the computer (simulating antenna performance).

Third year B.E (electrical) and/or second year B.Sc (physics) is preferable. Students studying toward Bachelor Degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Materials Engineering or Materials Science, with an emphasis on advanced fibre composites or electrical properties will also be considered.

Air Vehicle Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

AVD 02 Finite element analysis of adhesively bonded joints

There are three possible topics: 1. Effect of bonded repair on buckling onset load and post buckling behaviour of composite structures. 2. Finite element analysis of helicopter frame-to-frame joint 3. Finite element analysis of adhesively bonded joints The outcome from this research would be great enhancement of knowledge and skill in simulation of aircraft composite structures or bonded repair of composite structures plus possibly a joint publication based on the scientific value of the research discovery.

This research suits a student with a strong background in material mechanics and mathematics. Detailed guidance will be provided by the DSTO Supervisor.

Literature review of theory and application; Review the existing experimental work; Review the existing analyses and draft report; Conduct simulation trials using available models; Conduct simulation using novel computational approaches. Review the existing experimental work; Conduct further analyses Complete the report

Mechanical, Aerospace or Materials Engineering

FEM simulation Air Vehicles Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

AVD 03 Development of a Quality Assessment Monitoring Tool for RAAF Boeing Wedge Tests

The Boeing Wedge Test measures the quality of adhesive bonds. Two plates of the adherend material are bonded together using the specified bonding technique. A wedge is driven between the adherends and a crack grows along the bondline. The length and location of the crack are measured as a function of time and compared to acceptable growth rates and crack locations. The Royal

Australian Air Force (RAAF) uses Boeing Wedge Tests to qualify personnel that perform adhesive bonded repairs on aircraft and to monitor the quality of adhesive bonding. DSTO is also using this work to develop a case for certifying bonded repairs to primary aircraft structure. A Quality Assessment Monitor has been developed in Microsoft Excel to analyse the results of RAAF Boeing Wedge

Tests however this Monitor has not been updated since 2006. The aim of this project is to (i) assess the relevance of this Monitor to current bonding operations, (ii) modify the existing, or develop a new, Monitor to maintain relevance, (iii) populate the new Monitor with RAAF data, (iv) conduct a statistical analysis of the data and interpret the results

Gain an understanding of the adhesive bonding process Review the existing Quality Assessment Monitor and identify the areas that can be improved. Possible areas include; ensuring relevant data is captured, ensuring statistical analysis is appropriate and enhancing user interface. Input RAAF Boeing Wedge Test data Conduct a statistical analysis on the data Interpret the results of the statistical analysis Mathematics, Statistics, Physical Sciences and Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical or Materials)

Microsoft Excel Air Vehiches Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

AVD 04 Simulation of a Thermally Soaring Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Air Vehicles Division has an on-going project examining the benefits that autonomous thermal soaring may offer for improving the range and endurance of small, electrically powered UAVs. The proposed project involves the integration of soaring-exploitation software (XCSoar) into an existing aircraft-modelling environment (Amiel) and preliminary analysis of the utilisation of thermal soaring by UAVs. XCSoar is a commercially available system used by glider pilots to predict the heading changes needed to efficiently exploit thermal soaring. This project would initially involve setting up the virtual communications links between the software environments and conducting verification and validation. Following this, the simulation will be used to examine the benefits of thermal soaring for a small UAV by examining the effects of different locations and seasons through statistical analysis.

(1) Integration of communications links with XCSoar into Amiel simulation environment (2) Verification and validation of software (3) Analysis of performance of thermally soaring UAVs of different sizes under varying conditions (4) Report on implementation and analytical results, including statistical analysis

Aerospace/mechanical engineering, electrical engineering. Windows desktop computing. Good programming skills in C, C++, is essential and MATLAB would be desirable but not essential. Report writing. At least third year student

Air Vehicles Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

AVD 05 Aircraft Dynamic Derivative Estimation using high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics

Aircraft flight dynamic modeling relies on accurate estimation of dynamic derivative data. This is generally derived using semiempirical methods, flight test or model-scale experiments. The advent of highly parallel computing clusters has raised the possibility of performing these "experiments" computationally.

The project direction and scope is flexible, but the student must continue the project as a final year student project

(1) This project will assess the feasibility of computing dynamic derivative coefficients of complex aircraft configuration using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The project will involve using the Fluent flow solver to simulate an aircraft undergoing a number of prescribed maneuvers. (2) Initial simulations will focus a validation case (for which there is extensive experimental data) and then consider a configuration more relevant to DSTO. (3) The resultant data will be used to evaluate the aerodynamic coefficient for maneuvering aircraft flight. (4) The method, results and analysis will be written up into a report

Aerospace engineering Windows desktop computing. Knowledge of CFD is essential. Basic programming in MATLAB, C, C++, etc would be desirable but not essential. Report writing

At least third year aerodynamics and CFD course.

Air Vehicles Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

AVD 06 Estimating Gas Turbine Engine Performance

The aim of this project is to identify the general magnitude of errors that can occur when estimating values of engine performance (such as thrust and fuel flow), over the entire flight envelop, when the data available as input to generic gas turbine performance modeling programs is based on only a small number of parameters at a single throttle condition

(1) Identify the open literature engine performance data typically available for any given engine. (2) Identify engines for which DSTO holds comprehensive engine data, and compile into a single database. (3) Use the generic data to estimate performance data across the flight envelope, for engines identified in step two.. (4) Compare the estimated data with actual known values. (5) Compile database of required information for various classes of engine, and determine approximate values and appropriate bounds. (6) Document the "best practice" for creating a new engine model using sparse data, and identify the typical errors associated with such an approach.

Aerospace/mechanical engineering, propulsion (gas turbine performance) and/or aircraft performance. Windows desktop computing. Basic programming in MATLAB, C, C++, etc would be desirable but not essential. Report writing

At least third year aerodynamic/propulsion/thermofluids course.

Air Vehicles Division DSTO Fishermans Bend

AVD 07 Development of a Hypersonic Attitude Control Simulation Tool For Re-entry Vehicles

HIFiRE is a 5-year international collaborative experimental flight test program between Australia and the USA that focuses on developing and demonstrating fundamental hypersonic and scramjet technologies. One of the most challenging up and coming flights involves controlling a Mach 8 hypersonic waverider vehicle re-entering the atmosphere.

This summer research project involves developing a generic simulation tool that analyses both the exo-atmospheric and in-atmosphere (aerodynamic) vehicle control phases of re-entry for this and other flights. The tool will be developed in MATLAB/SIMULINK and will enable the reconstruction of the vehicle’s attitude and trajectory based on given, vehicle configuration, control inputs and characteristics. The model will output and display the time history of vehicle state and represent instantaneous vehicle attitude.

The computational model will require solution of the relevant equations of motion and aerodynamic modelling given predefined control inputs, characteristics and vehicle configuration to define and display the vehicle’s corresponding attitude and position as a function of time. Validation of the tool will be achieved using existing flight data and known control characteristics.

Development of a sophisticated computational model that incorporates: control, flight dynamics, aerodynamics and mathematical modeling, which:

(1) allows a user to specify an arbitrary vehicle configuration (2) reads in time histories of predefined control parameters (3) knowing the vehicles previous attitude/position/state integrate the equations of motion to determine the new state (4) display and write vehicle state data to file

Results of this work will be documented and presented to fellow researchers

Mechanical / Aeronautical / Mechatronics Engineering, Applied Mathematics or Physics

Highly proficient in MATLAB / SIMULINK.

Ability to research complex problems and possess a strong physics / dynamics / mathematics background. Ability to solve partial differential equations using neumerical tools is essential

Must be enthusiastic and passionate; possess excellent communication skills; be a quick leaner

Air Vehicles Division DSTO Brisbane

AVD 08 Finite Element Study of Notch Plasticity and its Effect on the Crack Tip Plastic Zone

It is well known that fatigue crack growth occurs in regions of plastically deformed material at the crack tip. The project will involve modelling the crack tip plastic zone using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and relating the observed behaviour to various notched geometries. The project may also involve an experimental component relating to the modelling of crack tip plastic zone. This project will help develop a knowledge base key to the understanding of crack growth phenomena.

The student will conduct a parameter study using FEA to study the effect of notch radius and depth on the size of the plastic zone in relation to various remote loading scenarios. The project may also involve liaising with technical staff to execute an experimental test plan.

Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Solid Mechanics

Numerical Analysis, Finite Element Analysis, Visual Basic

Must be 3rd year or above

Air Vehicles Division DSTO Fishermans Bend