Actuation and Controls Research for Advanced Adaptive Propulsion Concepts
About the Research
The US Army Research Laboratory, Mechanical Sciences Division under the Weapons and Materials Research Directorate performs basic and applied research on Turbine Power and Propulsion Sciences including hypersonic vehicle systems to innovate far-term and mid-term technologies envisioned for future Multi-Domain Battlefield Operations. Vehicle Power and Propulsion technologies are key thrust areas for innovations in Army rotorcraft gas turbine engines and hypersonic long-range precision fire weapon systems to enhance their efficacy of targeted lethality, durability, safety and superior performance with cost-effective sustainability.
Responsibilities
- Develop advanced high temperature next-gen materials, thermal/environmental barrier coatings, and adaptive components for high-efficiency multi-domain operational capability.
- Improve aerodynamic efficiency, thermal loading, flight range, and maneuverability using light-weight high temperature materials and adaptive structures for better overall performance in hypersonics research.
- Innovate advanced gas turbine concepts with adaptive components, morphing scramjet inlets, articulating exhaust nozzles, and other morphing or articulating structures for control surfaces or leading edge nose sections of vehicle systems.
- Research intelligent, robust, and adaptive control and actuation methods that will advise scaling and feasibility for implementation in airbreathing engine flow paths, lifting surfaces, and control surfaces.
- Conduct multi-disciplinary systems-level approach to maximize the speed and accuracy while minimizing the complexity of adaptive hypersonic systems using advanced actuators, smart materials, sensor systems, and new adaptive control methods to manage the open-ended degrees of freedom of morphing systems.
- Establish MDAO (Multi-Domain Analysis & Optimization)-based vehicle design configurations and associated performance predictions to represent the full potential of morphing technology given a fully custom design.
- Characterize the parameter trade space and mission effectiveness of a suite of optimized hypersonic morphing actuation concepts using state-of-the-art, experimentally-informed MDAO processes.
Requirements
- Deep knowledge of smart material based actuators, mechanisms, advanced control algorithms, and thermal protection materials/coatings.
- Capabilities to research on multi-body systems analysis and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental assessments to optimize actuation mechanisms and control schemes to innovate efficient structural morphing with quick response to control inputs.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field.
- Experience with advanced control algorithms and smart material-based actuation systems.
- Knowledge of high-temperature smart-materials and thermal protection systems.
- Experience with multi-body systems analysis and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental assessments.
- Strong background in aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science.
Skills
- Advanced control algorithms and smart material-based actuation systems.
- High-temperature smart-materials and thermal protection systems.
- Multi-body systems analysis and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) experimental assessments.
- Aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science.
Benefits
- Opportunities for collaboration with ARL staff and cross-directorate partnerships.
- Close interactions with simulation or experimental experts within ARL and relevant external partners from academia, industry, and other national laboratories.
Pay
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Schedule
- Full-time position.
Contact Information
ARL Advisor: Muthuvel Murugan
ARL Advisor Email: muthuvel.murugan.civ@mail.mil
About WMRD
The goals of the Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD) are to enhance the lethality and survivability of weapons systems, and to meet the soldier’s technology needs for advanced weaponry and protection. Research is pursued in energetic materials dynamics, propulsion/flight physics, projectile warhead mechanics, terminal effects phenomena, armor/survivability technologies, environmental chemistry, and advanced materials (energetic, metals, ceramics, polymers, composite/hybrids, and mechanics) for armor, armament, missiles, ground vehicles, helicopters, and individual soldier applications necessary for maintaining and ensuring supremacy in future land warfare.
About ARL-RAP
The Army Research Laboratory Research Associateship Program (ARL-RAP) is designed to significantly increase the involvement of creative and highly trained scientists and engineers from academia and industry in scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Army. Scientists and Engineers at the CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL) help shape and execute the Army's program for meeting the challenge of developing technologies that will support Army forces in meeting future operational needs by pursuing scientific research and technological developments in diverse fields such as: applied mathematics, atmospheric characterization, simulation and human modeling, digital/optical signal processing, nanotechnology, material science and technology, multifunctional technology, combustion processes, propulsion and flight physics, communication and networking, and computational and information sciences.