PhD Studentship: High-speed Intake Aerodynamics

Supervisory Team: Neil Sandham

PhD Supervisor: Neil Sandham

Project description:

You will join a group of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers using high performance computing to advance understanding of high-speed aerodynamics, relevant to next generation supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles.

Intakes for high-speed vehicles are required to slow down the oncoming flow with minimal losses. The resulting designs include oblique shock waves that interact with wall boundary layers. The subsequent shock-wave boundary-layer interactions result in flow separation that can lead to extreme unsteadiness and unstart of the intake. Numerical simulations allow access to time- and space-resolved information that is difficult to obtain with laboratory experiments.

Over the past decade we have developed efficient software that enables us to run large numerical simulations with billions grid points on mixed computer architectures including CPU and GPU machines. A current project is preparing the code set for the next generation of exascale computing, including development of tools for analysis of large data sets. The methods used for the research will be direct numerical simulation, using multi-block structured grids, and modal analysis based on simulation databases.

On the project you will gain skills in advanced computational methods and data processing, working alongside a diverse group of researchers and contribute to UK efforts in hypersonics. You will develop your writing and presentation skills and have the opportunity to present results at international conferences and interact with other groups around the world.

For this project you must have UK, US or Australian nationality and either already have or are expecting to achieve a first class degree. You should have studied fluid mechanics or aerodynamics to a high level, have an aptitude for computational work and have carried out successful project work. Early applications are welcome. Thanks to additional funding there will be an additional stipend available for this project, substantially increasing above the standard UKRI PhD studentship.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Prof Neil Sandham, Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Research Group, Email: n.sandham@soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 4872.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified.

Funding: We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students, including Bursaries and Scholarships.  For more information please visit PhD Scholarships | Doctoral College | University of Southampton  Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

How to apply

Apply online, by clicking the 'Apply' button, above. 

Select programme type (Research), 2024/25, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Engineering & Environment (Full time)”.

In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor: Neil Sandham

Applications should include:

• Research Proposal
• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

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