Dr. Wayne Neu

Dr. Wayne NeuPh.D., SUNY-Buffalo
Associate Professor
215B Randolph Hall
(540) 231-7061
neu@vt.edu
http://www.aoe.vt.edu/~neu

Education

Ph.D., 1981, M.S., 1981, B.S., 1977, Engineering Science, S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo.

Professional History

2001-present, Assistant Department Head; 1988-present, Ocean Engineering Program Coordinator; 1987-present, Associate Professor; 1981-1987, Assistant Professor, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Professional Leadership

Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, SNAME National Education Committee; American Geophysical Union; Sigma Xi; National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges Board on Oceans and Atmosphere, Engineerig Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc.

Research Interests

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Ships

In this effort, we are applying multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) techniques to design of ships. The goal of this project is to enable the ship designer to reduce the time needed to produce and analyze alternative ship designs at a high level of detail. It is envisioned that design calculations be done at a first-principles level, including manufacturing and operational econometrics. This MDO process brings to bear the fidelity of first-principle analyses at what would normally be thought of as a preliminary design stage. Recently, we have been running ship design optimization calculations that include the effects of the uncertainty in the analyses that are done in the ship synthesis model. For example, we can address the uncertainty that comes from an uncertain estimate of the ship’s resistance or weight estimate or any other aspect of the design. These are modeled by introducing random variables for each uncertain quantity and the uncertainties in the objective function(s) are calculated. A confidence of success of a design can be determined which may serve as an additional objective function.

Propulsion of Fast AUV’s

A recent project is the design of the propulsion system for a fast autonomous underwater vehicle. The propulsion system makes use of a small, high-powered motor and a pair of counter-rotating propellers. The counter-rotating propellers are used in order to minimize the torque the propulsion system applies to the body.

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