PhD Studentship in Aeronautics: Magnetic Suspension Balances (MSBS) for Drag Reduction (AE0059)

Start Date: Between 1 August 2025 and 1 July 2026

Introduction: MSBS offer an unrivalled opportunity for making sting-free measurements of time-dependent forces acting on aerodynamic models. Except for the usual challenges associated with Reynolds-number dependence, an MSBS offers the best way of estimating forces on engineering bodies as in 'flight', such as submarines, UAVs and re-entry space capsules. Often such bodies operate in a mixed ballistic / aerodynamically assisted regime. The understanding of the fluid forces is important when the flight is ballistic, and essential when, for example, recovery of a UAV or space capsule depends on an accurate measurement of the operating forces, lift and drag. Measurement of dynamic properties (mass, and inertia of the vehicle) and aerodynamic properties (of the vehicle and its control surfaces) are key to precise control.

Objectives: MSBS offer the opportunity to identify unsteady aerodynamic phenomena that are of paramount importance for control of highly maneuverable vehicles operating at high (post-stall) angles of attack or indeed novel vehicle configurations and flapping flight. Hardware-in-the-loop simulations would enable free-flight testing of such vehicles in the wind tunnel with a focus on fundamental studies of new drag reducing geometries for both friction drag and bluff body pressure drag.

Two new MSBS facilities are being constructed in the UK – one at the University of Oxford for satellite re-entry and one at Imperial for low-speed drag-reducing flows.

Supervisors: Professor Jonathan Morrison, Chair of Experimental Fluid Mechanics.

Learning opportunities: You can expect to be an expert in magnetic field design, aerodynamics and turbulent flows, and to have developed skills in experimental fluid mechanics, statistics, data processing and mathematical modelling.

Professional Development: You will have access to engaging professional development workshops in areas such as research communication and professional progression through our Early Career Researcher Institute.

Duration: 3.5 years.

Funding: Full coverage of tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £21,237 - while there are no recruitment restrictions on nationality, the award covers fees at the Home rate only. This project is funded by the EPSRC (Grant EP/Y036484/1) as part of the UKRI new infrastructure investment for NWTF for seven UK universities.

Information on fee status can be found on our Fees and Funding webpages.

Eligibility: You must possess (or expect to gain) a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree or equivalent in Engineering or any closely related discipline.

How to apply: Send a preliminary application to Professor Jonathan Morrison: j.morrison@imperial.ac.uk highlighting how you meet the selection criteria and include your CV, university transcripts and, optionally, a piece of written work (i.e, from a previous project report).

You will then submit your application via our Apply webpages. You will need to include the reference (AE0059) and address your application to Department of Aeronautics. When making your application, please type ‘Aeronautics Research (PhD)’ into the programme search bar.

For queries regarding the application process, email Lisa Kelly at: l.kelly@imperial.ac.uk.

Application deadline: 9 January 2025

For further information: You can email Professor Jonathan Morrison, Project Lead: j.morrison@imperial.ac.uk. 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Imperial is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and are working in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.