Core technology areas
AOE’s strategic thrust areas are supported by the depth and breadth of our faculty members’ domain expertise—the nuts and bolts of research that can be applied and repurposed for any number of technologies.
Aero-hydrodynamics and aeroacoustics
Airflow, aerodynamic and aeroacoustic research involves the development, design, and application of experimental and computational techniques for transportation systems in air and water.
Laboratories
Advanced Propulsion and Power Lab
Location: 1670 Innovation Drive
Facilities:
Hot Jet Facility
Stereoscopic PIV
Portable LDV System
Continuous Wave DGV System
High Speed DGV System
Hypersonic Tunnel
Aerospace Structures and Materials Lab (Fabrication Facility)
Location: RB2 Room 100
Cavitation Lab
Location: VTSS 150
Experimental Aeroacoustics Lab
Location: VTSS 158
Facilities:
Anechoic Wall-Jet Wind Tunnel
Anechoic Open Jet
Hydro-Elasticity Lab
Location: Norris 005
Facilities:
Wedge Drop Facility (Water Tank)
Hydrodynamics Lab
Facilities:
Towing Tank
Hydrostatic Tank
Mini Water Tunnel
Stability Wind Tunnel
Location: Randolph 25
Teaching/Research Lab
Location: Goodwin Hall 140
Facilities:
Open-Circuit Wind Tunnel
Smoke Tunnel
Unsteady Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics Laboratory
VTSS 158
Vortical Flow and Diagnostics Lab
Location: RB2 Room 101
Structures and materials
Effective aerospace and ocean vehicles and structures typically require high performance, lightweight materials. Research in structures and materials emphasizes structural stability, computational material/structural design, and durability.
Laboratories
Aerospace Structures and Materials Lab (Fabrication Facility)
Location: RB2 Room 100
Aerostructures Testing Lab
Location: 107 Hancock
Data-Driven Dynamics Lab
Location: Norris 310
Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Lab
Location: 5250 Whitethorne Rd
National Security Institute / Hume Center
Location: 1311 Research Center Dr
Nonlinear Systems Lab
Location: 1991 Kraft Drive Room 2008-C
Dynamics, control, and estimation
Researchers in dynamics, control, and estimation investigate the motion of vehicles in sky, sea, and space as well as dynamics, control and estimation issues related to navigation.
Laboratories
Aerospace Structures and Materials Lab (Characterization Facility)
Location: 118E Surge
Aerospace Structures and Materials Lab (Fabrication Facility)
Location: RB2 Room 100
Assured Vehicle Autonomy Lab
Location: VTSS 133
Facilities:
OptiTrack Motion Capture System
Data-Driven Dynamics Lab
Location: Norris 310
Hydro-Elasticity Lab
Location: Norris 005
Facilities:
Wedge Drop Facility (Water Tank)
Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Lab
Location: 5250 Whitethorne Rd
Nonlinear Systems Lab
Location: 1991 Kraft Drive Room 2008-C
Stability Wind Tunnel
Location: Randolph 25
Starbelt Cyber-Physical Systems Lab
Location: VTSS 239
Teaching/Research Lab
Location: Goodwin Hall 140
Facilities:
Open-Circuit Wind Tunnel
Smoke Tunnel
Space engineering
Space engineering research in AOE focuses on designing and developing technologically agile autonomous platforms. These platforms will have increased ability to process sensor data locally, make tactical decisions, and take advantage of the latest technological capabilities for airborne and space borne systems.
Laboratories
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Lab
Facilities:
Space Constellation Navigation and Timing Simulators
Space Communications, Optics, Payloads, and Engineering Lab (SCOPE)
Location: VTSS 239
Starbelt Cyber-Physical Systems Lab
Location: VTSS 239
Propulsion
Propulsion research focuses on furthering the knowledge of high power rocketry by analyzing and experimentation on injectors, combustors, nozzles, propellants in air and space, and other advanced propulsion technologies.
Laboratories
Advanced Propulsion and Power Lab
Location: 1670 Innovation Drive
Facilities:
Hot Jet Facility
Stereoscopic PIV
Portable LDV System
Continuous Wave DGV System
High Speed DGV System
Hypersonic Tunnel
Airport Turbomachinery Lab
Experimental Aeroacoustics Lab
Location: VTSS 158
Facilities:
Anechoic Wall-Jet Wind Tunnel
Anechoic Open Jet Tunnel
Kentland Experimental Aerial Systems Lab
Location: 5250 Whitethorne Rd
Propulsion & Energetics Lab
Location: RB2 Room 100
Stability Wind Tunnel
Location: Randolph 25
Vortical Flow and Diagnostics Lab
Location: RB2 Room 101
Computational mechanics
Research in computational mechanics concentrates on the development of modeling and optimization technology and software for specific aerospace and ocean engineering systems applications.
Laboratories
AOE Studio for Design Innovation
Location: 118C Surge
Advanced Research Computing (ARC) at Virginia Tech
Intelligent Design Optimization (IDOpt) Lab
Location: VTSS 145
Design, fabrication, and rapid prototyping support
By testing and evaluating conceptual designs of air, ocean, and space structures, research in fabrication, prototyping, and additive manufacturing enables the transition of rapid prototyping technologies to additive manufacturing.
Laboratories
3D Print Lab
Location: 501 Industrial Park Rd
Aerospace Engineering Design Laboratory
Location: 501 Industrial Park Rd
Machine Shop
Location: 501 Industrial Park Rd
Model building center
Location: VTSS 235
Facilities:
Epilog 50W Laser Cutter and Engraver
Composite layup and fabrication equipment
Ware Advanced Engineering Laboratory
Location: Military Building 203