The Ohio State University

Abstract: 

Most engineers work with formulas and equations which were developed centuries ago. The basics of solid mechanics, fluid dynamics, and heat transfer are taught at the undergraduate level. The computational tools used daily by practicing engineers use these simple underpinnings and apply them to more complicated situations than previous generations could with pencil, paper, and slide rule. There are still a few areas in which engineers work that the fundamental equations themselves are so complicated they are not covered in typical undergraduate education, such as combustion and aeroacoustics. These fields lack robust, general purpose computational tools that can be employed by working engineers to evaluate new concepts. Engineering in these fields is done more by trial and error and incremental development. One major objective of NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program is to develop the robust computational tools that will allow inexpensive exploration of new propulsion and airframe concepts, including their noise impact. The presentation will focus on what tools engineering students can expect to have today, and the challenges that remain for engineering students interested in research to work on for tomorrow.

Author Bio: 

Dr. James Bridges grew up in Texas, went to the University of Houston to be an engineer, and found engineering research interesting enough not to leave until he obtained his PhD in 1990. Following his graduate work in turbulence and aeroacoustics he joined NASA in Cleveland,OH to work on the High Speed Civil Transport Program. After that program failed partly on the lack of good aeroacoustic prediction tools, he has directed his research and that of his team to filling this need. He has experience and has published papers in jet noise, advanced turbulence and acoustics diagnostics, and CFD. He currently heads the Airport Noise group under the Supersonics Project at NASA.