Aerospace Engineering research and PhD programmes

Research activities within the aerospace and aviation engineering degree programmes at Brunel cover a wide ranging and diverse field of topics. Academic staff involved within these programmes investigate fundamental and complex problems relating to aerodynamics and aeroacoustics, flight physics and performance, helicopter rotor dynamics and structural mechanics together with Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Elements Analysis code development and application.

Research opportunities for students 

Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. Browse PhD opportunities below and find out about the funding available for students.

Research in Aerospace and Aviation Engineering

Find people, projects, groups and publications in aerospace and aviation engineering and read more about related research to this area. 

Our research strategy

Meet our experts

Our latest publications

Multi-objective optimisation of hybrid renewable energy systems for Colombian non-interconnected zones - Torres-Madroñero, JL Nieto-Londoño, C Arenas-Castiblanco, E Zapata-Benabithe, Z Jouhara, H

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Energy-economic analysis and optimization of a shell and tube heat exchanger using a multi-objective heat transfer search algorithm - Prajapati, P Raja, BD Patel, V Jouhara, H

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Applications of the MC-DC casting technology to 6xxx series automotive aluminium alloys - Katikaridou, Kyriaki

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Innovation drivers for autonomous vehicles and mobile connective technologies in the UK: A study of technology acceptance factors - Mossa, Mazen

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Independent assessment of our research quality (REF 2021)

View REF 2021 details for Engineering (UoA 12)

Wrexham firm decked out with Brunel research

REF 2021

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Xcell: Studying cells and tissue biochemistry in simulated microgravity

Chromosome behaviour and dynamics after exposure to simulated microgravity

Modular multi-material crash box for tailored impact energy absorption

Repurposing waste heat in composite manufacturing processes

CoVEs in aerospace and defence for advanced manufacturing

Improving Sustainability: Metal Powder Production for Additive Manufacturing

Joint Industrial Data Exchange Platform (JIDEP)

Developing new AM-CFC multi-materials for optimised designs

Low temperature waste heat to power generation

ESENSE: Tooling enabling temperature homogeneity and embedded graphene sensors

End-effectors development and industrialisation for aviation

Extreme dynamic loading of aerospace composite structures

High-performance pultrusion for advanced composites

Innovative hybrid production process for alloys

Polymer-based composite systems for high-efficient energy scavenging and storage

Active refrigeration shelf with thermal storage

Cost effective acoustic liners for jet engines

Smart self monitoring composite tool

Composite hybrid joints with electromagnetic compatibility

Graphene sensor for defect detection in composite materials

Novel multi-zone self-heated out-of-autoclave composite tool

Advanced casting technology for aerospace structural components

Ultrasonic inspection of aircraft wiring

Long range ultrasonic inspection of aircraft wiring

Automated terahertz imaging of composites

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Research groups and centres

Advanced Powertrain and Fuels

We have particular strengths in improving the efficiency and reducing energy cost of existing engines through developing low temperature combustion processes and their controls and regenerative braking, as well as unique methodologies for the study of fuels and engines.

Aerospace Research Centre

The Aerospace Research Centre integrates aerodynamics, aeroacoustics and aerostructures to tackle emerging areas in 21st-century aerospace industries with far-reaching impacts.

Assessment of Structures and Materials under Extreme Conditions

Thermo-mechanical modelling of metallic, non-metallic and composite structural materials; numerical methods development for solid and structural mechanics applications; experimental methods to support the development and application of advanced material and structural models.

Automotive

Our industry-focused expertise is supporting the future development of new transport technologies, helping address the challenges of producing cleaner, more efficient vehicles and fuels along with integrated intelligent transport systems.

Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology (BCAST)

BCAST is an academic research centre focusing on both fundamental and applied research on solidification of metallic materials.

Brunel Composites Centre

Shared research and technology capabilities, specialising in novel composites processing and joining technologies applied to industrial environments.

Brunel Innovation Centre

A world-class research and technology centre that sits between the knowledge base and industry.

Circular Metals

An interdisciplinary academic team (including macroeconomics, industrial sustainability, business management, artificial intelligence, product design, metallurgical science and materials engineering) and a strong industrial consortium involving the full range of the metals supply chain delivering the transformation of the metals industry.

Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies

Thermal systems including renewable systems and their application; Single and two-phase heat transfer processes–enhanced heat transfer; Refrigeration; Heating-cooling and ventilating systems; cooling of electronics; Coatings and nanofluids in thermal applications; Modelling and energy efficiency in thermal systems; Carbon capture systems; Energy storage, renewable hydrogen and fuel cell systems; Energy materials; Energy use in communication systems.

Experimental Techniques Centre

A highly regarded cross-disciplinary characterisation facility, with specialist staff that have expertise from various scientific disciplines, e.g. biology, metallurgy, geology and engineering.

Institute of Energy Futures

We have particular strengths in environmental design in refrigeration, heating and cooling and disruptive energy and fuels bringing together researchers from different disciplines as well as mainstream engineering research.

Institute of Materials and Manufacturing

Aims to improve the performance of materials and structures and become the leading international provider of materials and manufacturing research.

Liquid Metal Engineering Hub

The Hub's research programme, co-created with industry partners, focuses on the closed-loop recycling of metallic materials as the single greatest challenge and opportunity facing the global manufacturing industry.

Mechanics of Solids and Structures

Internationally leading research in the areas of experimental testing and computational modelling of solids and structures.

Non-traditional Manufacturing Technologies

Development, application, and implementation of non-traditional manufacturing technologies: electro-discharge machining, electrochemical machining, laser technologies, vibration machining of brittle materials, abrasive flow machining, electroforming, diamond machining, ultrasonic machining and many more.