Joseph A Schetz

Fred D. Durham Endowed Chair Professor

Research Expertise

Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics

Professional History

1999-present, Fred D. Durham Endowed Chair, 1993-1999, J. Byron Maupin Professor, 1969-1993: W. Martin Johnson Professor and Chairman, Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; 1985, Visiting Scholar, Beijing Research Lab., Beijing, China; 1970, Guest Professor, Institute for Theoretical Gas Dynamics, DFVLR, Aachen, Germany; 1964-1996, Consultant to Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University; 1964-1969, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Maryland; 1961-1964; Senior Scientist and Supervisor, Combustion Research, General Applied Science Laboratory, Westbury, NY.

Awards and Honors

• 2005 J. Leland Atwood Award of the AIAA
• 2004 Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
• AIAA Fellow
• AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award
• AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Technical Award
• AIAA Aerospace Contribution and Society Award
• ASEE/AIAA J. Leland Atwood Award
• ASME Life Fellow
• ISABE Best Paper Award
• Alumni Award for Excellence in Research

Professional Leadership

Research Interests

Skin Friction and Heat Flux Measurements

This research involves the development and testing of devices for the direct measurement of skin friction and heat flux in hot, high-speed flows. Current focus is on the use of fiber-optic and nanomaterial sensors. Tests are conducted at NASA, UTRC and other high-speed facilities. Support is from NASA, Air Force, and industry.

Aerodynamics and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization for Advanced Aircraft

The aerodynamics of innovative transonic and supersonic aircraft configurations is being studied, and the results are incorporated in MDO design studies. Some of the configurations under study include distributed propulsion to improve propulsive efficiency and reduce noise. Another arrangement involves truss-braced wings to improve aircraft performance and reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Support is from NASA, USAF, and Boeing.

Injection, Mixing and Combustion in Supersonic Flow

This effort involves experimental studies in Virginia Tech, supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnels and supporting numerical predictions for injection. A main application is to the combustion chamber for scramjet vehicles. Probes and optical methods are employed. Combined injectors and plasma ignitors for hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuels are under study. The effort is supported by NASA, Air Force, and industry.