Aerospace Engineering focuses on the fundamental science and characterisation of the aerodynamic and structural interaction of fluid flowing systems and components typically found in the aerospace industry.

The main areas of research revolve around:

• Rotor aerodynamics mainly involve the use of wind tunnel measurements and a range of numerical tools, ranging from blade-element-momentum models to higher fidelity models based on vortex methods and CFD. New and computationally efficient models have been developed for predicting the stochastic behaviour of rotor blade aeroloads under moderate to deep stall conditions, taking into account the effects of dynamic stall as well as the effects of 3D flow originating from stall delay and the tip/root regions.
• Aerodynamic performance analysis of micro-propellors used for Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) propulsion that are constrained to operate a very low Reynolds numbers. This impacts prop efficiency and endurance in flight.
• Design, development and testing of lightweight structures used in the aerospace industry.
• Advancement and optimisation of joining techniques of aluminium and composite structures.
• Damage mechanics of fibre reinforced composite structures.

Funded projects

Ph.D. project 'Modelling the Self-Induced Cycle-to-Cycle Variations in the Aerodynamic Blade Loads of a Yawed Wind Turbine'
Funded by: Scholarship by Libyan Government
Ph.D. student: Moutaz Elgammi
Date: 2013 - 2017
Supervisor: Tonio Sant

Biodiversity and Sustainable Development in the Strait of Sicily - BioDiValue
Funded by: Italia-Malta 2007-2013 project 
Date: July 2012 – January 2015
Principal Investigator: Martin Muscat
In collaboration with: ARPA (Agenzia Regionale per la protezione del'Ambiente), Consorzio Plemmirio Area Marina Protetta, International Ocean Institute - Malta Operational Centre (University of Malta), ISPRA (Istituto Superiore Protezione Ricerca Ambientale), Area Marina Protetta Isole Pelagie Sindaco del Comune di Lampedusa e Linosa, Gal XLOKK, Universita` degli Studi di Catania, Green Life Soc. Coop. a.r.l.

Innovative Fibre Reinforced Composites Designed for Higher Structural Performance - FiReCOMP
Funded by: MCST - National Research & Innovation Programme 2010
Date: Feb 2011 - Oct 2013
Principal Investigator: Duncan Camilleri
Co-investigator: Brian Ellul
Industrial Collaborators: SilverCraft Products Ltd

Fabrication of Advanced Hybrid Composite Sandwich Panels - FACTS
Funded by: MCST - National Research & Innovation Programme 2011
Date: Oct 2011 - Sept 2013
Principal Investigator: Claire DeMarco
Co-investigators: Pierluigi Mollicone, Duncan Camilleri
Industrial Collaborators: Bucaneer Boats Ltd, Gudja Malta

Joint Ph.D. project with Faculty of Aerospace Sciences, TUDelft, '3D flows near a HAWT rotor: A dissection of blade and wake contributions'
Funded by: MGSS Scholarship
PhD student: Daniel Micallef
Date: 2008 - 2012
Supervisor: Tonio Sant

Selected publications 

• Elgammi, M. and Sant, T., 'A New Stall Delay Algorithm for Predicting the Aerodynamic Loads on Wind Turbine Blades for Axial and Yawed Conditions', Wind Energy, Wiley, May 2017.
• Elgammi, M. and Sant, T., 'Combining Unsteady Blade Pressure Measurements and a Fee-Wake Vortex Model to Investigate the Cycle-to-Cycle Variations in Wind Turbine Aerodynamics Blade Loads in Yaw', Energies 2016, 9(6), 460, June 2016.
• Sant, T., del, Campo, V., Micallef, D. and Ferrieira, C.S., 'Evaluation of the Lifting Line Vortex Model Approximation for Estimating the Local Blade Flow Fields in Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines', J. Renewable and Sustainable Energy 8, 023302 (2016), AIP,  Feb 2015.
• Sant, T. and Cuschieri, K., 'Comparing Three Aerodynamic Models for Predicting The Thrust and Power Characteristics of Yawed Floating Wind Turbine Rotors', ASME Journal for Solar Energy Engineering, 138(3), 031004, SOL-15-1241, February 2016.
• Farrugia, R., Sant, T. and Micallef, D., 'A Study on the Aerodynamics of a Floating Wind Turbine Rotor', Renewable Energy, Elsevier, Vol. 86, pages 770-784, 2016.
• Micallef, D., Ferriera, C.S., Sant, T, van Bussel, G.J.W., 'Experimental and numerical investigation of tip vortex generation and evolution on Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines', Wind Energy, Wiley, 28 SEP 2015, 
• Haans W., Sant T.,  van Kuik G. and van Bussel G.J.W., 'Measurement of Tip Vortex Paths in the Wake of a HAWT under Yawed Flow Conditions', Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Special Issue on Wind Energy, Vol. 127, No. 4, Nov. 2005, pp. 437-596.
• De Marco Muscat-Fenech, C, Cortis, J, Cassar, C (2014). Impact Damage Testing on Composite Marine Sandwich Panels. Part 2: Instrumented Drop Weight.' Journal of Sandwich Structures and Materials, 16 (5), (2014), 443-480, DOI:10.1177/1099636214535167. – For AeroSpace 
• De Marco Muscat-Fenech, C.M., Mizzi, K., (2016). 'Analysis of the Impact on Composite Structures.' International Conference on the Impact Loading of Lightweight Structures, ICILSM 2016, 22nd to 26th May 2016, Turin, Italy.
• Ellul B and Camilleri D, 2015, ‘The Influence of Manufacturing Variances on the Progressive Failure of Filament Wound Cylindrical Pressure Vessels', Composite Structures, vol 133, pp 853-862. 

Theme members

Prof. Duncan Camileri
Prof. Claire De Marco
Prof. Martin Muscat
Prof. Michael A. Saliba
Prof. Tonio Sant
Dr Simon Mizzi