Dr W.J.CROWTHER
Aerodynamics of a spinning football
Footballers
are able to produce curved ball flight paths by imparting spin to the ball as
they kick it. The basic mechanism whereby lift forces are produced by spin is
well known (the Magnus-Robins effect), however, success in measuring the effect
in a wind tunnel study has so far been illusive. In this project an existing
wind tunnel rig will be adapted and used to validate basic analytical models
predicting aerodynamic lift and drag acting on a spinning football as a
function of spin advance ratio and spin axis orientation. The student will
learn about wind tunnel test techniques as part of this project.
EXP,
Workshop (Y), 8 Tech hours
AE
Dr W.J.CROWTHER
Experimental validation of a water rocket
simulation
This
project will use an existing miniature microcontroller-based data acquisition
system to obtain acceleration, velocity and attitude data from a compressed air
water rocket for the purposes of validating and extending an existing 2d simulation.
The project is suitable for a student with an interest in flight dynamics and
good practical skills. The student will learn about instrumentation and data
acquisition as part of the project.
Exp/Analytical,
Workshop (N), 4 Tech hours
AE/ME
Dr W.J.CROWTHER
Development on a novel disc wing launching
system
This
project seeks to develop a compressed air barrel launching system for rotating
disc wings, such as Frisbees or clay pigeons. The work will involve design and
modelling of the launch system (using Matlab SimMechanics) and experimental
validation of the concept at model scale. The key challenge of the system in
generating disc angular momentum at the time as linear momentum. The project is
suitable for a student with a good understanding of mechanics/dynamics and good
practical design skills
Exp/Analytical,
Workshop (Y), 8 Tech hours
AE/ME
Dr W.J.CROWTHER
Development of a leg-based autonomous landing
system for UAVs
Within
nature, birds are able to land a fixed point in space by appropriate approach
trajectory and the use of legs to both absorb final impact energy and provide
support on the ground on a perch. This project will extend an existing leg
simulation in Matlab SimMechanics to include motion of the bird/UAV and develop
a control system that enables perch capture from a generic approach path. The
project is suitable for a student with an interest in mechanics and simulation.
As part of the project the student will learn about basic robotic arm control.
Analytical,
Workshop (N)
AE/ME
Dr W.J.CROWTHER
Intake design for embedded electric ducted fans
Electric
ducted fan UAVs are currently being developed as a BAESYSTEMS sponsored
research project at the University of Manchester. The present project will look
at the design and experimental validation of intakes for ducted fan models. The
student should have an interest in aerospace propulsion and practical skills
suitable for developing and running bench top/wind tunnel test rigs.
Exp/Analytical,
Workshop (Y), 8 Tech hours
AE
Dr W.J.CROWTHER
Development of a flow control based heart
simulator for medical experiments
Traditionally, heart simulators for experimental blood flow experiments are based on variable speed, variable displacement pumps, and typically cost of order of $25 000. This project seeks to develop a lower cost solution based on the use of a fast acting flow control valve. The work will be undertaken in collaboration with Dr Philip Lewis, a consultant heart specialist in Manchester, with the student expected to work on site at the hospital for part of the time. The project is suitable for a student with a strong background in fluid mechanics and an interest in developing experimental apparatus. The work builds on a previous project which has established a basic experimental setup for pulsing water flows.
Exp,
Workshop (Y), 8 Tech hours
ME