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Aerospace engineering faces many exciting environmental and energy challenges, which require major reductions in emissions, noise and aircraft weight. The precision expertise associated with this has also stimulated a range of related aerospace and non-aeronautical activities. At the Department of Aeronautics, we are addressing those challenges and making substantive contributions to the future of aviation. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021), we were assessed to have the highest proportion of world-leading researchers in the UK.
Our research is funded through many sources including the EPSRC, the EU, and a range of industrial and government collaborators. We have many state-of-the-art research facilities, some of which are unique to the UK which are also used for teaching and commercial research. In these pages you can find an introduction to our main research themes and detailed information about their breadth in the full list of research groups.
Research highlights
Data Science, Optimisation and Control Research
Dr Georgios Rigas explains about data science research, in which several methods and tools using data are exploited to tackle problems found in fluid mechanics (due to limited measurements and complex physics). Meanwhile, Dr Eric Kerrigan and Dr Thulasi Mylvaganam talk us through the concept of control, and how control algorithms can be optimised for autonomous systems and beyond.
Data Science, Optimisation and Control Research
Learn how these emerging concepts can solve problems in fluid mechanics, autonomous systems and more
Dr Georgios Rigas explains about data science research, in which several methods and tools using data are exploited to tackle problems found in fluid mechanics (due to limited measurements and complex physics). Meanwhile, Dr Eric Kerrigan and Dr Thulasi Mylvaganam talk us through the concept of control, and how control algorithms can be optimised for autonomous systems and beyond.
Dr Zahra Soltani and Dr Isabella Fumarola
Dr Zahra Soltani and Dr Isabella Fumarola describe their project on drag-reduction strategies.
Dr Zahra Soltani and Dr Isabella Fumarola worked together on an EPSRC sponsored project called "Understanding and exploiting non-equilibrium effects on turbulent boundary layers: Towards realisable drag reduction strategies". You can out more about this research on Zahra's profile page.
High and Low Speed Experimental Aerodynamics
The breadth of research in High and Low Speed Experimental Aerodynamics research
This video demonstrates the breadth of research in High and Low Speed Experimental Aerodynamics that takes place at the Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Research
This video illustrates the Department's Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) research
This video illustrates the Department's Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) research. Professor Peter Vincent talks about how we use computers to solve complex fluid flow problems, with applications across the aerospace and automotive industries, as well as marine and green energy.
Assessing COVID-19 transmission risk during exercise
The 10x5 Wind Tunnel helped assess the transmission risk of COVID-19 during outdoor exercise
The Department of Aeronautics' 10x5 Wind Tunnel re-opened to support COVID-19 research. Assisted by 'AirSniffers', our team assessed the transmission risk of SARS-like viruses such as COVID-19 during outdoor exercise.
Student Projects: Nnaemeka Anyamele
Nnaemeka Anyamele explains his work with the 10x5 Wind Tunnel team on a COVID-19-related project.
Aeronautics student (now alumnus) Nemy Anyamele explains his work with the 10x5 Wind Tunnel team on a COVID-19-related research project supported by the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP). Read Nnaemeka's profile for more information about the research project and the UROP scheme.
