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Research

Centers and Institutes

In addition to research programs offered by the Department of Aerospace Engineering, there are a multitude of centers and institutes to which a student may belong. Department supported centers are the Institute for High Performance Computer Applications (IHPCA), the Rotocraft Center of Excellence, the Center for Acoustics and Vibration, the Propulsion Engineering Research Center at Penn State, and the Center for Gas Turbines & Power.

Institute for High Performance Computer Applications (IHPCA)

  • Web site:
  • Contacts:
    • Dr. Lyle N. Long: Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications
    • Dr. Philip J. Morris: Associate Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications
    • Dr. Paul Plassman (Computer Science): Associate Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications
    • Dr. Jim Anderson (Chemistry): Associate Director, Institute for High Performance Computing Applications

This Institute was established in 1995 by the College of Engineering. it is an interdisciplinary institute that promotes the use of high performance computers in education and research. The organization was established in consultation with the Colleges of Science and Earth and Mineral Sciences, the Center for Academic Computing and the Applied Research Laboratory. The education emphasis on the Institute is the training of students in the practical use of high performance computers. An interdisciplinary graduate minor in high performance computing is being established and graduate coursework has been developed. The research activities of faculty affiliated with the Institute includes acoustics and fluid mechanics in engineering, computational chemistry, and global climate modeling. The Institute has helped to establish a UNIX-based computer classromms and has also been instrumental in the acquisition of high performance computers for research and instruction.

Penn State Rotorcraft Center of Excellence

  • Web site:
  • Contacts:
    • Dr. Edward C. Smith: Co-Director, Rotorcraft Center of Excellence
    • Dr. Lyle N. Long: Co-Director, Rotorcraft Center of Excelence

The Penn State Rotorcraft Center of Excellence is one of three university research centers in the country which focuses on technical problems specific to rotary-wing aircraft. It is funded by the National Rotorcraft Technology Center (NRTC), an organization consisting of Army, NASA, and industry representatives such as Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing Helicopters. The Penn State Rotorcraft Center involves facilities, faculty and students from the Departments of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Egnineering Science and Mechanics. Rotorcraft Center Research thrusts include rotor and vehicle dynamics, composite and smart structures, cabin noise, rotor noise, rotor aerodynamics, and drivetrain technologies. In addition to core NRTC support, many Rotorcraft Center research projects are supported directly by industry, US Army, and US Navy agencies. Rotorcraft Fellowships are available to provide additional finanical support for ourstanding graduate students.

Center for Acoustics and Vibration

  • Contacts:
    • Dr. Gary H. Koopmann: Director, Center for Acoustics and Vibration
    • Dr. George A. Lesieutre: Associate Director, Center for Acoustics and Vibration

This Center was recently established at Penn State by combining existing programs in the College of Engineering and the Applied Research Laboratory. Acoustics and vibration engineering is concerned with sound in the broad sense, including all frequencies and all types of mechniical wave phenomena and vibrations within gases, solids and liquids. The principal research interests of the Center for Acoustics and Vibration (CAV) are those that can be identified as high-tech and, moreover, those that are either under development or that are still in the embryo stage. Those that fall into this classification can be referred to as “emerging acoustical and vibration technologies”. The center is concerned with research in eight major areas, i.e. Active Control, Aero/Hydro Acoustics, materials Evaluation, Particulate and Chemical Acoustics, Propagation and Radiation, Smart Materials, Structural Acoustics, Vibrations and Machinery Noise. The Center involves facilities and faculty from Aerospace, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechanics, and the Applied Research Laboratory.

Propulsion Engineering Research Center at Penn State

  • Contacts:
    • Professor Robert J. Santoro
      Director
      Propulsion Engineering Research Center
      Research Building East
      The Pennsylvania State University
      University Park, PA 16802
      (814)863-NASA
      FAX Number: (814)865-3389

With the support and guidance of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Penn State has established a Center for Space Propulsion Engineering Research. This is the result of a long history of a commitment to excellence in space-rel ated engineering research and education. Its mission is to enhance and broaden the capabilities of America's engineering community to meet the needs of the expanding space program. The Center focuses on five major areas of research: Chemical Propulsion, Electric/Nuclear Propulsion, Advanced Propulsion Concepts, Diagnostics, Materials. It is housed primarily in the Departments of Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science and Mechanics in the College of Engineering, with additional programs in other Engineering departments as well as in the Colleges of Science and Earth and Mineral Science. Financial support for graduate work is available through either NASA Traineeships or Research Assistantships. NASA trainees receive stipends plus tuition and fees. Stipends for assistantships are competitive. Students involved in Center activities h ave an opportunity for direct interaction with NASA installations.