The Turbomachinery Laboratory at Texas A&M University hosted the Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Lecturer on March 9, 2022 at the Mechanical Engineering Office Building. Dr. Zoltan Spakovzsky, professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology delivered a lecture titled “Instabilities Everywhere! Hard Problems in Aero-Engines.”
ABOUT THE LECTURE
The talk discussed improvements and enhancements in jet engine design, due to better computers and improved simulations of the fluid flow and supporting structure, and how those improvements changed the problems encountered by aerospace engineers today. A key challenge is the characterization of damping and the related dynamic behavior of rotating and stationary components and assemblies, and of the fluid-structure interactions and coupling. The theme of this lecture was instability in the broadest sense.
Many problems of technological interest in aero-engines were discussed with a focus on dynamical system modeling and identification of the underlying mechanisms. Future perspectives on outstanding seminal problems and grand challenges were also given. Dr. Spakovzsky specifically discussed the longevity and importance of gas turbines, saying that with “the challenge of the climate and the [current] goals for the climate, people are thinking that maybe gas turbines are done, because we have to do alternative things for example with batteries, and electric machines, and hydrogen is another big topic….all I meant to say is that is all true and necessary, but that doesn’t mean gas turbines are going away.” He went on to say his lecture discussed “hybrid concept [solutions] where gas turbines will still play a role, without limiting the opportunity for new things”.
When asked what he considered the most important thing a new engineer could learn from his lecture, Spakovzsky commented, “power propulsion is a really exciting field. There is no aviation without propulsion. It is mature technology, but there are still a lot of very hard problems [with the technology] and still plenty of problems to solve for engineers in this area.”
Who: Dr. Zoltan Spakovzsky
When: Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Where: MEOB 301
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Spakovszky is a Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and director of the Gas Turbine Laboratory. He obtained his Dipl. Ing. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich and his MS and Ph.D. degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT. Dr. Spakovszky’s principal fields of interest include propulsion and energy conversion, internal flows in fluid machinery, compressor aerodynamics and stability, micro-fluidics and rotordynamics, aero-acoustics, aircraft design for the environment, and electrified aviation. He directs analytical and experimental research in these areas and teaches courses in thermodynamics, propulsion and fluid mechanics, and aeroacoustics.
He has authored many technical papers in refereed journals and has been awarded several ASME International Gas Turbine Institute best paper awards, the ASME Melville Medal, the ASME Gas Turbine Award, the ASME John P. Davis Award, the ASME IGTI Scholar Award, a NASA Honor Award, several undergraduate advising / teaching awards, and the Ruth and Joel Spira Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Spakovszky is a technical consultant to industry and government agencies. He held several positions at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. He is an ASME Fellow, Vice Leader of the ASME Gas Turbine Segment Leadership Team, an AIAA Associate Fellow, and served as the chair of the turbomachinery committee and review chair of the ASME International Gas Turbine Institute, and associate editor for ASME Journal of Turbomachinery.
ABOUT THE LECTURE SERIES
The Turbomachinery Distinguished Lecture Series was endowed in 2014 by the Turbomachinery Laboratory on behalf of the Turbomachinery Advisory Committee, a group of dedicated industry experts who volunteer their time to oversee the success of the annual Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia (TPS). Advisors are respected leaders in their companies and fields who select the technical program for TPS each year. The lecture series enables the Department of Mechanical Engineering to invite prominent turbomachinery experts to present lectures of importance and interest to Texas A&M students and faculty.
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ABOUT TURBOMACHINERY LABORATORY
The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Turbomachinery Laboratory makes a vital impact on turbomachinery and related industries through research, education, and professional workforce development. Visit turbolab.tamu.edu for more information.
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