Center for Unsteady Aerodynamics @ UCLA

Collaborative multi-faceted explorations of complex aeronautical challenges

The Center for Unsteady Aerodynamics is a leading hub for research and innovation, dedicated to solving the most complex challenges in modern fluid dynamics. Our work is driven by the need to understand and mitigate the effects of high-level unsteadiness imposed by extreme weather, complex flight environments, and evolving energy demands. We seek foundational knowledge and applied solutions that advance the fields of aviation, hydrodynamics, energy, and bio-inspired systems. Our interdisciplinary approach seamlessly integrates theoretical, computational, experimental, and data-driven methods. This synergy allows us to tackle problems of unprecedented complexity with both scientific rigor and practical efficiency. The Center has a track record of successful domestic and international collaborations with academic, government, and industry partners. We are committed to fostering an environment where fundamental scientific inquiry leads directly to impactful, real-world solutions to produce the next generation of scientists and scientific advancements.

Research areas

  • Extreme aerodynamics, transients, and large disturbance flows
  • Subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flows
  • Turbulent, chaotic, and complex flows
  • Fixed and rotary wing air vehicles, ground vehicles, marine vehicles
  • Unmanned air systems (UAS) and urban air mobility (UAM)
  • Flight dynamics
  • Flow-structure interaction (FSI)
  • Biological flows
  • Flow separation and reattachment, static and dynamic stall and recovery
  • Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and high-performance computing
  • Experimental fluid dynamics, testing, and flow measurement
  • Theoretical, low order, and data-driven modelling
  • Machine learning and AI
  • Uncertainty quantification
  • Flow sensing, estimation, and control
  • Design optimization

Our Team

Barbara Lopez-Doriga

Ph.D. 2024, M.Eng. 2019, Illinois Inst of Tech
M.S. 2019, B.S. 2017, Univ Politécnica de Madrid

Reduced-order modeling, turbulence

Victoria Rolandi

Ph.D. 2021, ISAE-Supaero
M.S. 2018, Politecnico di Milano
B.S. 2015, Politecnico di Torino

Modal analysis, flow transition, flow separation

Henry Jones

B.S. 2025, UCLA

Vortex dynamics, wing tip vortices, swept/delta wings, wind tunnel and water channel testing

Mackenzie Ficke

B.S. 2025, UCLA

Flow separation, boundary layers, wind tunnel testing

Youngjae Kim

M.S. 2020, B.S. 2018, Sogang University

Phase-reduction analysis of fluid flows

Zhecheng Liu

M.S. 2023, Johns Hopkins University
B.S. 2020, Harbin Institute of Technology

Deep reinforcement learning, flow control, reduced order modeling, CFD

Christopher McCormick

B.S. 2024, UCLA

Optimization, flight dynamics modeling, uncertainty quantification

Hanieh Mousavi

M.S. 2018, B.S. 2016, Amirkabir University of Technology

Data assimilation, CFD, machine learning, reduced-order modeling

Hiroto Odaka

B.Eng. 2022, University of Tokyo

CFD, extreme aerodynamics, data-driven modeling and analysis

Christopher Orr

B.S. 2026, UCLA

CFD, subsonic flow, vortex analysis and control, turbulence dynamics

Adam Schroeder

B.S. 2025, Macalester College

CFD, stability and modal analysis, applied mathematics

Ryan Teoh

B.S. 2026, UCLA

CFD, machine learning, controls, robotics

Jonathan Tran

B.S. 2023, UCLA

Dynamical systems and control theory, machine learning, CFD, applied mathematics

Yueshan Yang

B.S. 2026, UCLA

CFD, machine learning

Yonghong Zhong

M.S. 2020, B.S. 2017, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

CFD, modal analysis, machine learning

Alumni

Zachary Cowger

MS 2025, BS 2024, UCLA
Product Development Engineer, nLIGHT

Wind tunnel testing, flow separation and wakes, baseball aerodynamics

Antonios Gementzopoulos

PhD 2024, University of Maryland
Postdoctoral Associate, High-Speed Aerodynamics and Propulsion Laboratory (HAPL), University of Maryland  

Vortex-dominated flows, experimental aerodynamics, flow estimation and control, high-speed flow physics, rough-wall turbulence

Sponsors

Contact Us

The SOFIA Laboratory
Separated and Transient Aerodynamics Laboratory
Computational and Data-Driven Fluid Dynamics Group