Pradeep Raj

My Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is derived from and aligns with that of Socrates and Galileo:

"I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think." - Socrates  (c.470  BCE)

"You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him find it within himself." - Galileo  (1564 - 1641 CE)

I see myself as a coach and a mentor focused on inspiring students to learn, pursue excellence, and capitalize on their innate strengths.

My Four Goals

1. Help students understand the value proposition of learning the subject matter covered in a course
2. Help students develop skills to devise innovative solutions to complex problems with consideration of global and societal contexts so that they are better prepared to succeed in their professional careers
   
3. Make sure that students have a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and that they develop competencies to apply the principles to solve seemingly intractable problems 
   
4. Ensure that students learn to exercise highest levels of professional ethics and personal integrity in every aspect of engineering problem solving and interpersonal interactions

Courses I Have Taught

AOE 4065 & 4066: Air Vehicle Design [Lead Instructor of this two-semester sequence that I taught in the academic years 2011-2012 through 2021-2022 and in 2023-2024]. Use the hyperlink to see the course modules grouped in three categories: I. Foundational Elements; II. Air Vehicle Design Fundamentals; and III. Project Management Topics.
AOE 4114: Applied CFD [Co-instructor of this course taught in the spring semester of 2020 through 2025]. Use the hyperlink to check out my 12 lectures on the evolution and effectiveness of applied computational aerodynamics.

Courses I Have Coordinated

AOE 3564: Principles of Project Design & Management [Instructors:  Prof. Grossmann (VT), Prof. Moser (MIT), Prof. Carlson (VT)]  

AOE 5944: Seminar 

For more details, use the hyperlink for full CV

Applied Computational Aerodynamics for Air Vehicle Design

Applied computational aerodynamics (ACA) is an engineering discipline that deals with the application of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology to the analysis and design of objects moving through the air, such as airplanes. CFD is a sub-discipline of Fluid Dynamics which is an applied science  concerned with the movement of fluids. CFD simulates the flow field around a body moving through a fluid by numerically solving the governing fluid dynamic equations in a specified domain surrounding a virtual model of the body using digital computers. When the fluid is air, CFD is commonly called computational aerodynamics.

ACA is no longer a luxury but a necessity to support engineering design of all types of vehicle systems that move through the air.  There are two rather obvious reasons. First, ACA can predict flight performance by using CFD-generated aerodynamic data such as forces, moments and stability & control parameters. If the predicted and target performance do not match, ACA engineers identify potential design modifications using an improved understanding of on- and off-body flow features. Second, ACA provides critical inputs to many other disciplines contributing to design. For example, steady and unsteady airloads are required as inputs for airframe structural analysis and design. Flight control system design requires incremental forces and moment as inputs to assess airplane response to control commands.

However, effectiveness of ACA (and of other computational simulation methodologies) for air vehicle design is determined by its ability to deliver credible solutions on time and on budget. A solution is deemed credible if it replicates reality. This is one area where ACA predictions fall short especially for complex flows dominated by flow separation or free-vortex flows. Devising and developing effective strategies to improve effectiveness is the primary focus of my research. A few of the recent papers listed below highlight the related expertise:

1. Raj, P., “Effectiveness of CFD for Aircraft Design: Status and Prospects,” ICAS 2024-0283, 34th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Florence, Italy, September 9-13, 2024.    
   
2. Shah, H., and Raj, P., “An Assessment of CFD Effectiveness for Simulating Wing-Propeller Aerodynamic Interactions,” RAeS Applied Aerodynamics Conference, London, UK, September 13-15, 2022.
3. Raj, P., “Applied Computational Aerodynamics: An Unending Quest for Effectiveness,” Lead Paper, RAeS Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Bristol, UK, July 24-26, 2018.
4. Ganesh, R.V., Raj, P., Choi, S., and Emeneth, M., “Development and application of WASPE for conceptual design of HEDiP aircraft,” Paper P.2, RAeS Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Bristol, UK, July 24-26, 2018.
5. Park, J., Choi, S., and Raj, P., “On More Effective Aerodynamic Data Generation for Simulation Based Aircraft Conceptual Design,” ICAS 2016-0151, 30^th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Daejeon, Korea, September 25-30, 2016.
6. Raj, P., and Choi, S., “TiCTaC: An Innovative Paradigm for Aerodynamic Data Generation to Meet Aircraft Conceptual Design Needs,” Paper C.2, RAeS Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Bristol, UK, July 19-21, 2016.
7. Sudalagunta, P., Sultan, C., Kapania, R., Watson, L., and Raj, P., “Aeroelastic Control-oriented Modeling of an Air-breathing Hypersonic Vehicle,” AIAA-2016-1325, 15^th Dynamics Specialists Conference, AIAA SciTech Forum, San Diego, CA, January 4-8, 2016.
8. Friedman, A., Raj, P., and Alyanak, E., “Multidisciplinary Design Space Exploration Using Additive Manufacturing and Rapid Prototype Testing,” AIAA-2015-2942, 16th AIAA/ISSMO Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference, AIAA Aviation Forum, Dallas, TX, June 22-26, 2015.
9. Raj, P., and Friedman, A., “On timely and cost-effective prediction of aerodynamic data to meet aircraft design needs,” Paper H.1, RAeS Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Bristol, UK, July 22-24, 2014.
10. Raj, P., “CFD for Aerodynamic Flight Performance Prediction: From Irrational Exuberance to Sobering Reality (Invited),” 5^th Symposium on Integrating CFD and Experiments in Aerodynamics, Tokyo, Japan, October 3-5, 2012.
11. Raj, P., “Computational Uncertainty: Achilles’ Heel of Simulation Based Aircraft Design (Invited),” NATO/RTO Air Vehicle Technology (AVT) Symposium on Computational Uncertainty in Military Vehicle Design, Athens, Greece, December 3-6, 2007.

Use the hyperlink for a complete list of Papers & Publications

 

• Member, AIAA SciTech Forum Guiding Coalition, 2022-2024
  
• Chair, AOE Honorifics Committee, 2012–2022
• Member, COE Honorifics Committee, 2012–2022
• Member, VT AOE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, 2015–2024
• Chair, VT AOE Ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee, 2016–2018
• Member, External Review Team, Comprehensive Digital Transformation (CDT) program, NASA-Langley Research Center, 2016-2019
• Member, Advisory Committee for the Engineered Surfaces, Materials, and Coatings (ESMC) for Aircraft Drag Reduction program, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), 2015–2018
  
• Member, AIAA Aircraft Design Technical Committee (ADTC), 2013–present
• Member, Strategic Advisory Committee, AFRL/ VT/ WSU CCMS (Collaborative Center for Multidisciplinary Sciences), 2008–2011
• Member, Industrial Advisory Board, Michigan/AFRL/Boeing CCAS (Collaborative Center for Aeronautical Sciences), 2007–2011
• Member, SAE Teetor Educational Award Committee, 2006–2011
  
• Member, Council on Competitiveness National Advisory Committee, High Performance Computing Initiative, 2003–2011
• Technical Program Co-Chair, 9th AIAA/ISSMO Symposium on Multidisciplinary Analysis and Optimization Conference, Atlanta, GA, 4-6 September, 2002
• Member, Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) TC, 1993–1997
• Member, NRC ASEB Fluids Panel to evaluate AFOSR proposals, 1996–2002
• Member, Applied Aerodynamics TC, 1989–1992
• Member, Fluid Dynamics TC, 1985–1988
• Invited Peer Review Panel Member for (a) Sandia National Lab, Compressible Fluid Mechanics and Aerothermodynamics, 1999; (b) Air Force Research Lab, Computational Sciences Research, 1999; (c) NASA-Langley Research Center, Aerodynamics Research Programs (2015), High-Lift Aerodynamics (1999), Computational Algorithms (1997), and High Alpha Research Program (1991)

• Distinguished Faculty Award, Academy of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Excellence, Virginia Tech, 2022
  
• Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech, 2016
• Fellow, Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), 2016
  
• Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), 2011
• Distinguished Engineering Merit Award, Engineers’ Council, 2006
• Mission Success Award, Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, 1996
• Outstanding Session Speaker Award, AIAA Atlanta Section Aerospace Technology Symposium, 1992, 1993 and 1997
• Engineer/ Scientist of the Month Award, Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, 1991
• Fellow, Institute for the Advancement of Engineering, 1991
• Engineering Merit Award, Engineers’ Council, 1991
• Associate Fellow, AIAA, 1991
• SAE Industrial Lecturer, 1990-1991
• R&D Advancement Award, Lockheed-California Company, 1987
• Meritorious Technical Contribution Award, AIAA St. Louis Section, 1979
• Hay Medal, Indian Institute of Science, 1970
• Chancellor’s Medal, Meerut University, 1967

• 2024 - now   Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Collegiate Professor Emeritus
  
• 2017 - 2024   Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Collegiate Professor
• 2012 - 2017   Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Professor
• 2006 - 2011   Lockheed Martin (Skunk Works®), Deputy Director, Technology Development & Integration
• 2000 - 2006  Lockheed Martin (Skunk Works®), Senior Manager, Vehicle Science & Systems
• 1999 - 2000   Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Manager, Aerodynamics
• 1992 - 1999   Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems, Technical Fellow
• 1989 - 1992   Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Technical Leader, Applied Computational Aerodynamics
• 1985 - 1989   Lockheed-California Company, R&D Engineer, Aerodynamics
• 1983 - 1985   Lockheed-California Company, Research Specialist, Aerodynamics
• 1979 - 1983   Lockheed-California Company, Aerodynamics Engineer–Senior, Aerodynamics
• 1978 - 1979   University of Missouri–Rolla, Assistant Professor
• 1976 - 1978   Iowa State University, Research Assistant Professor
• 1972 - 1976   Georgia Institute of Technology, Graduate Research Assistant