The U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has granted Professor Pezhman Mardanpour a significant $1.2 million award to further his work in applying constructal theory to the aeroelastic design of future aircraft. This initiative brings Professor Mardanpour into collaboration with Professor Adrian Bejan from Duke University, the discoverer of the constructal law, and researchers from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL).
This research is inspired by recent preliminary discoveries offering insights into the evolutionary design of flying wing aircraft. It explores the complex interplay between stress flows, aeroelastic stability, and overall aircraft performance.
Professor Mardanpour's research stands to significantly impact the aeroelastic design of multi-physics, multi-scale structures in future aircraft. It aims to bridge current knowledge gaps by harmonizing theoretical, computational, and experimental methodologies with the ‘physics of design’, which is primarily focused on the configuration of energy flows. Grounded in constructal law, this research emphasizes evolutionary design principles, examining ways to scale up and add complexity to aircraft designs. The ability to foresee evolutionary trajectories is particularly crucial in the realm of hypersonic vehicles and space travel, areas where no pre-existing natural designs are available for human adaptation.
The expected results are aircraft designs that are more stable, sustainable, and cost-efficient, potentially transforming the future of aviation.