Seminar: The Future of Turbine Engine Technology

Abstract:

For decades, the gas turbine engine has enabled the United States and its allies to maintain military air superiority. The Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) Program is the United States’ planning and execution construct for Turbine Engine Technology. VAATE is a partnership among Government, Industry, and Academia, each bringing their unique capabilities to the table and working together toward common propulsion goals. The combined facilities of the VAATE community, including component test rigs, physics-based modeling tools, engine test stands and analytical hardware and software, are the leading edge of turbine engine research and development. These shared capabilities are the foundation of the technology leaps required to reach capability goals. Together, the unique VAATE team represents thousands of years of aggregate experience and includes many widely renowned world- class experts in the field of gas turbine engine research and development, working together to develop and transition the most advanced gas turbine engine possible.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Charles J. Cross is the Chief of the Turbine Engine Division for the Aerospace Systems Directorate.  He is an internationally recognized expert in turbine engine dynamics, mechanics and durability. Dr. Cross has led numerous national and international teams to investigate costly turbine engine fatigue and structural dynamics issues, and resolve problems that impacted fielded engine systems for many years. His contributions have saved the USAF millions of dollars and returned to flight status multiple military aircraft including the B-1, B-2, F-15, F-16, F-22 and F-35. His publication record includes over 110 journal papers, technical reports and proceedings, and one patent. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of the Air Force Research Laboratory, and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Dr. Cross received a B.M.E in Mechanical Engineering (1991) from the University of Dayton and a M.S.M.E. (1992) and Ph.D (1998) in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.

Hosted by Professor Herman Shen