{"693122":{"#nid":"693122","#data":{"type":"event","title":"PhD Defense by Andro Metry","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStudent Name: Andro Metry\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdvisor: Dr. JVR Prasad\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMilestone: PhD Thesis Final Examination (Defense)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDegree Program: Aerospace Engineering\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ETitle: Development of a Velocity Potential-Based Finite State Model for Analyzing Rotor in Ground Effect\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAbstract: Accurate prediction of rotor induced velocities near the ground is important for rotorcraft performance, handling qualities, and control. Existing finite-state formulations for ground-effect analysis have not explicitly enforced the non-penetration of flow boundary condition at the ground because of limitations in computing induced velocities below the rotor within the wake. This research develops a velocity potential-based finite-state model (VPBFSM) that uses a dual-rotor formulation with adjoint variables to impose the non-penetration of flow boundary condition. The main rotor is represented as an upper lifting rotor through pressure discontinuities, while the ground is represented as a lower non-lifting rotor through distributed mass sources. An algebraic relation is developed to determine the ground mass-source strengths in terms of rotor loading required to enforce the non-penetration of flow boundary condition at the ground. The model is then applied to full, inclined, and partial ground effect and is evaluated through comparisons with analytical, experimental, and higher-fidelity free-wake results. For full ground effect, the predicted average rotor inflow agrees with the Hayden model with an approximate relative error of 0.006, while normalized induced-torque predictions agree with experimental measurements to approximately 3% for most cases above ground. Corresponding induced-torque comparisons for inclined and partial ground effect show errors of approximately 2% and 1%, respectively. The VPBFSM is further extended to dynamic and moving-ground conditions by accounting for wake-propagation delay and time-varying rotor-ground geometry. Finally, the quasi-steady and dynamic VPBFSM formulations are coupled with a simplified single-degree-of-freedom vertical vehicle model. Both formulations predict recovery to a new hover equilibrium in ground effect as the reduction in induced inflow allows rotor thrust to recover. Overall, the developed VPBFSM provides a reduced-order framework for predicting rotor inflow and vehicle response across full, inclined, partial, dynamic, and moving ground-effect conditions, with potential application to real-time flight simulations.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDate and time: 2026-10-22, 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELocation: MK-317\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommittee:\u003Cbr\u003EDr. JVR Prasad (advisor), School of Aerospace Engineering\u003Cbr\u003EDr. Lakshmi Sankar, School of Aerospace Engineering\u003Cbr\u003EJuergen Rauleder, School of Aerospace Engineering\u003Cbr\u003EDavid Peters, Washington University in St. Louis\u003Cbr\u003EUmberto Saetti, Politecnico di Milano\u003Cbr\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDevelopment of a Velocity Potential-Based Finite State Model for Analyzing Rotor in Ground Effect\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Development of a Velocity Potential-Based Finite State Model for Analyzing Rotor in Ground Effect"}],"uid":"27707","created_gmt":"2026-10-07 11:42:37","changed_gmt":"2026-10-07 11:43:15","author":"Tatianna Richardson","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2026-10-22T11:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2026-10-22T13:30:58-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2026-10-22T13:30:58-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2026-10-22 15:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2026-10-22 17:30:58","gmt_time_end_last":"2026-10-22 17:30:58","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"MK-317","extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"100811","name":"Phd Defense"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78771","name":"Public"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}