Alistair Hales
Track
Research Frontiers
Faculty Mentors
Justin Jaworski
Associate Professor
Wiliam Devenport
Alumni Distinguished Professor
Research Focus
My research concerns improving the analytical modelling for the nonlinear interaction of vortex pairs. This research will be part of a new group within the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering (AOE) department, the Unsteady Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics Laboratory, led by Prof. Justin Jaworski. The vortex-interaction problem is of significant interest to engineers since vortices formed by rotor tips or wingtips of aircraft can interact downstream with the wings of other aircraft and reduce drag.
Current understanding of this problem can involve over-simplistic descriptions of these vortices in favour of analytical simplicity. However, the wings of these aircraft may create a wider range of vortices (in times of their core properties and geometry) than are currently accounted for in models. Our efforts will focus on adapting the current modelling approach to more realistic scenarios and will be performed in tandem with high-fidelity computational simulations. With an improved predictive model for the physics involved in this phenomenon, we can counteract the harmful effects of vortex interactions in a variety of important real-world contexts. In addition, we intend to apply and develop machine-learning techniques designed to uncover the importance of nonlinear effects in fluid flow, DMD.
This work is in collaboration with Dr. Matt Colbrook from my previous institution, the University of Cambridge, and will also apply to a variety of other important problems in aeroacoustics and aerodynamics being tackled by the wider research group at CREATe (the Centre for Research and Engineering in Aero/Hydrodynamic Technologies). This approach reflects the collaborative nature of this group which we are keen to contribute to.
Why did you choose to pursue postdoctoral training at Virginia Tech?
Although I did my undergraduate and graduate studies in the United Kingdom, I was aware of the high-level facilities and research performed at Virginia Tech in aeroacoustics and fluid dynamics. In 2023 I was awarded a scholarship from my department to visit Virginia Tech for a few months, during which time I settled in Blacksburg and was able to gain significant insight into the research performed by my current mentorship team. It was clear to me that this opportunity was perfect for me to continue my approach of consolidating analytical methods to experimentally-motivated problems in fluids.
What are you most looking forward to as you begin in this fellowship at Virginia Tech?
I am excited to join an innovative and collaborative group within my department, CREATe. I will get a unique opportunity to apply and develop my skills in multiple applications and learn from leading experts in these fields. Virginia Tech is world-renowned for its facilities and experimental capabilities in my field so contributing to the group’s research is exactly the challenge I am looking forward to.