Advanced Aircraft Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics

Professor Xin Zhang

Xin Zhang holds a Ph.D degree in fluid mechanics from the Cambridge University, UK and B.Eng in aerospace engineering from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China. He is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and associated fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is currently the Swire Professor of Aeropace Engineering at Hong Kong Uniersity of Science and Technology

Two main research interests

Aeroaocustics, in particular airframe and engine noise
Aerodynamics, including aircraft aerodynamics and racing car aerodynamics

To tackle the tough design, performance, engineering and environmental challenges in these two areas, he and his team have develop advanced analytical, numerical and experimental methods.

Media News

Professor Xin Zhang speaks to BBC in Airport Live

Racing car wind tunnel aerodynamics tests

Qualifications and background

Dr Zhang conducts research and lectures in aerodynamics and aeroacoustics, in particular aircraft aerodynamics and noise. He has conducted experimental and computational research in the area of unsteady aerodynamics, ground effect aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and aircraft noise. He is an authority in the area of aircraft noise including both airframe and propulsive unit noise. He performed research in its understanding, developed novel and accurate numerical schemes for its prediction, devised methods for noise attenuation, and designed and constructed predictive codes based on physics for noise prediction which are being used by industry.

Dr Zhang's research over a period of 25 years led to the establishment of Airbus Aircraft Noise Technology Centre (ANTC) at Southampton in 2008 (see www.soton.ac.uk/antc ), which is a major centre of excellent in aircraft noise technology. The centre is the only Airbus university based technology centre in the world. Airbus is a company that produces around half of the world’s aircraft and employs more than 60,000 people across the EU. He has occupied the chair of Airbus Professor of Aircraft Engineering and served as the director of ANTC since 2008.

Dr Zhang has published over 200 papers including 95 archival papers. He has been an effective educator, establishing the first MSc course in racing car aerodynamics in the world at Southampton. To date, he has supervised nearly 50 PhD/EngD students as main supervisor; these students currently hold diverse positions in academia, aerospace and automobile industries, government, and other sectors.

Landing gear

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to calculate the flow field around the landing gear .

Some selected areas of research:

Fundamental aerodynamics and aeroaocustic research, e.g. cavitty, jet, etc.
Computational aeroacoustic (CAA) including cmmpact schemes and acoustic boundaries, e.g. liner
Stable accurate and efficient sound propagation equations, e.g. linearsied divergence equations
High-performance aeroacoustic computation, e.g. GPU based CAA code deevlopment
Aeroengine noise computation and modelling, e.g. intake, bypass duct,bifuraction,etc.
Airframe noise research inclduing high-lift devices, landing gears, and other devices.
Whole aircraft noise prediction model
Physics based noise models including PHYSICS land gear model
Next generation contra-rotating open rotor powered aircraft noise prediction
Efficient Computational fluid dynamics grid generation for industry applications
Aircrraft aerodynamic loads, e.g. A350 simulation, landing gear, wheel bay loads, etc.
Flow and noise control: advanced algorithms, plasma actuators, etc.
Race car aerodynamic: testing and performance
Front wing and diffuser in ground effect for racing car
Rotating wheel aerodynamics for racing car.
Aerodynamics of heaving wing in ground effect for racing car applications
Aircraft high-lift device flap active flow control

Fellowships and Awards

2004	Associated Fellow, AIAA
1999	Fellow, The Royal Aeronautical Society
1991	The Busk Prize, The Royal Aeronautical Society
1985	The ORS Award, British Council
1984	The Glaxo Scholarship, University of Cambridge
1983	The Best Graduate Award, BUAA

Membership of Professional and Learned Societies

Associated Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Fellow, the Royal Aeronautical Society