Reinhard Joachim Huyssen

Transcription

1 CV: RJ Huyssen (December 2014) Reinhard Joachim Huyssen Aeronautical Engineer (MEng) University of Pretoria Career Focus and Specialization Specializing in the art of engineering design, having designed and built complex devices since early high school days, I enjoy sharing my design philosophy and experience with young minds keen to advance their own design skills. In my primary activity of prototype development I plan and management engineering projects, do the design, construction, integration and testing, thereby leading projects from the client requirement to various predefined prototypes. In-house constructions of carbon fiber based composite structures often form the basis of hardware integration. In my research the focus is on the investigation of aircraft configurations in the domain of subsonic heavier-than-air fixed-wing flight. This requires a thorough top-level understanding of aircraft design, aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aircraft structures and aircraft propulsion as well as aeronautical simulation, testing and operations. This work relates to the initiative greener by design, a theme of increasing importance in the fast growing aviation industry. This work offers a proposition which may change the future of the aviation industry. Working in a new field of research and development always presents the challenge of sourcing funds, establishing infrastructure and work teams. Phone , Fax: , Mobile: , joachim.huyssen@up.ac.za 417 Mackenzie Street, Menlo Park, 0081 Pretoria, South Africa South African / German, born in

2 Overview of Employment and Projects 2014 to present: Lecturing machine design and supervising design and research projects in the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (DMAE) of the University of Pretoria (UP); 1997 to present: Founder and MD of Diomedes Innovations pty (ltd), responsible for project management, prototype development, mechanical and aeronautical design and consultation; : Development of a small high speed guided aircraft for Denel Dynamics; 2010: Wind tunnel testing by particle imaging velocimetry at the University of Southern California; : Project manager and designer in an UAV and gas turbine development project as a THRIP industry partner to the UP with Denel Dynamics; : Project manager and designer in the development of tooling and manufacturing techniques for composite materials as a THRIP industry partner to UP; : Development of a utility tricycle for the Department of Transport; : Senior lecturer for aerodynamics and fluid machines in the DMAE at UP; : Designing, constructing and testing of a full-scale test aircraft as researcher in the DMAE, UP; : Lecturing flight mechanics (post graduate) in the DMAE, UP; : Setting up a composite materials workshop in the DMAE, UP. Work Experience The following gives an overview of the most significant projects and milestones along a focused career development, which contributed to experience in management, design, research, fund acquisition and student supervision in academia and industry: At the core of my research on aircraft configurations resides the oldest debate in aviation: What should an aircraft look like? To test an important hypothesis I have developed the notions of the Ideal Wing and the Ideal Body. These concepts are systematically being investigated since To test if the proposed ideal wing can be suitably stable and controllable for human flight a fullscale experimental aircraft was developed and tested by means of tethered flight. Further explorations of the flight envelope were done by radio controlled scale models, water models and wind tunnel investigations. To test other elements of the proposed configuration a turbine powered high speed mini UAV was developed together with a launch and recovery system. For a larger version of this aircraft the design of a 700N gas turbine was developed. 2

3 A smaller version of this aircraft was based on an electric ducted fan to test the feasibility of doing thrust vector control, an opportunity offered by the proposed new configuration. During the development of aircraft recovery systems I was involved in deployment rocket and parachute testing. As chief designer of a 4.2m span UAV I am developing a recovery system and an all-terrain landing system. As co-supervisor of master students I was involved on the topic of occupant protection and in aircraft handling quality studies. To test elements of the ideal body I conducted particle imaging velocimetry investigations in the USA. In follow-up work to this I am currently consulting other PhD and Master students and to fund these initiatives I have established a partnership between Airbus and UP and the NAC (National Aerospace Centre). For this initiative a partnership has also been established between UP and the CSIR and the University of Southern California. To explore the possibilities of advanced composite materials, manufacturing tools and techniques have been developed and applied to elements like flexible wing skins, composite hydraulic actuators, primary structural elements and a variety of other components. During all these activities close to 100 engineering students have been involve through their final year design and research projects or through vacation work or practical training work. While most students were from UP also students from TUT and from abroad (Germany, Switzerland, Holland and France) were involved. By coordinating the industry partners Denel Dynamics, Diomedes Innovations and FTT Technologies, I mobilized funds for UP, matched by THRIP, for research and support of master and PhD students in the field of finite element analysis and optimization. From time to time I act as external examiner and as technical evaluator (aeronautics) for the National Research Foundation. Education Currently working towards a PhD under supervision of Prof. G. R. Spedding of the University of Southern California. Thesis title: Investigation into the gull-wing aircraft configuration. M.Eng. (Aeronautical) under Prof. E. H. Mathews, cum laude 1994, University of Pretoria B.Eng. (Mechanical) 1989, University of Pretoria Matriculated 1985, German School of Pretoria 3

4 Publications Journal articles: R. J. Huyssen, G. R. Spedding, E. H. Mathews, L. Liebenberg; On the Wing Density and the Inflation Factor of Aircraft, in review by the Aeronautical Journal. R. J. Huyssen, G. R. Spedding, E. H. Mathews, L. Liebenberg; Wing Body Circulation Control by Means of a Fuselage Trailing Edge, AIAA J. of Aircraft, Vol. 49, No. 5, September-October D. S. Agenbag, N. J. Theron, R. J. Huyssen; Pitch Handling Qualities Investigation of the Tailless Gull-Wing Configuration, AIAA J. of Aircraft, Vol. 46, No. 2, March-April S. W. vd M Meintjes, R. J. Huyssen, N. J. Theron; Comparison of crash response with different occupant support concepts, Aircraft Engineering & Aerospace Technology, Vol. 76 Issue R. J. Huyssen, C. P. Crosby, E. H. Mathews; The development of a high performance composite hang-glider, Aeronautica Meridiana, Vol 9, Journal articles withheld pending patent considerations: R. J. Huyssen, G. R. Spedding, On the existence of a hitherto untested, optimal aircraft configuration (to be submitted to the AIAA J. of Aircraft). R. J. Huyssen, G. R. Spedding, The gull-wing configuration for human flight (submission to be decided). Conference presentations: R. J. Huyssen, A. Groenwold, On tailless flight: lessons learned from the Exulans, Ostive Congress, RSA, S. W. vd M Meintjes, R. J. Huyssen, Development of a new concept for pilot protection, Ostive Congress, RSA, B. Barbieri, R. J. Huyssen, A study of the longitudinal and lateral stability of the Exulans, Ostive Congress, RSA, R. J. Huyssen, C. P. Crosby, The development of a high performance composite hang glider, Ostive Congress, New Zeeland, R. J. Huyssen, The resin dispenser, a new manufacturing process for composite materials, Ostive Congress, New Zeeland, Other publicity: As invited guest speaker I have given several public presentations on the development of a new aircraft configuration (also in Germany and the USA). There have been some broadcasts on national television and in the USA on this work. 4

5 Awards DTI award for Most innovative THRIP project 2002 Finalist in The Rolex Awards for Enterprise 1998 Winner of the NRF / SBDC Idea Competition 1997 (start-up funding for Diomedes Innovations) Aeronautical Society Award for best aeronautical final thesis 1989 University 3 rd year student award 1988 Gold medals at the Young Scientists Expo 1984 Personal Skills 16 years of experience with solid modeling (NX / Unigraphics); Experienced with digital particle image velocimetry (PIV); Experienced with manufacturing with composite materials, CNC machining and general workshop tools; Acquired private pilot, glider pilot and hang glider licenses, scuba diving certificate and experienced with radio controlled flying; Fully trilingual: English, Afrikaans and German (mother tongue), understanding Italian. References Prof. G. R. Spedding (University of Southern California) Prof. J. P. Meyer, Prof. P. S. Heyns, Prof. K. J. Craig (UP) Prof. L. Liebenberg, Prof. E. H. Mathews (NWU) Prof. A. Groenwold (University of Stellenbosch) Mr. M. Morrelli (CSIR) Dr. G. Viljoen (Denel Dynamics) Dr. E. Coetzee (Airbus, Future Projects Office, Bristol) 5