research

My research aims to advance the understanding of complex flow fields to better optimize aerodynamic systems. I have investigated unsteady aerodynamics to increase wing performance, conducted high-fidelity heat transfer simulations to predict performance of body temperature management systems, and studied wing/rotor interaction to optimize a hybrid UAS system. I have expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel experimentation. My recent efforts have been focused on statistically quantifying motion of unstable aerodynamic bodies, in an effort to better understand the underlying physics of such motion. I have had the good fortune of collaborating with a diverse set of research partners and colleagues.

Research Group Members

Christopher Griffin, PhD

Teaching Associate Professor
Dept. of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engr., WVU

Michael Farha

Graduate Research Assistant
Pursuing MS in Aerospace Engineering

Ross O'Hara

Graduate Research Assistant
Pursuing Dual MS in Aerospace Engineering

James Shope

Graduate Research Assistant
Pursuing MS in Aerospace Engineering

Thomas Webster

Undergraduate Research Assistant
Pursuing BS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Andrew Winters

Graduate Research Assistant
Pursuing MS in Aerospace Engineering

Current Research Activity

Advanced UAS

My research group is actively working to increase efficiency of UAS while also working to decrease acoustic and visual signature. This includes research in the area of performance at asymmetrically loaded conditions, control logic development for hybrid platforms, and path planning with collision avoidance.

Aerodynamics and Behavior of Unstable Projectiles

In a highly collaborative research project, my group is working to better understand the kinematics of tumbling bodies and the role aerodynamics plays in the behavior. This involves static and dynamic CFD simulations, combined CFD/6DoF simulations, and sub-scale free-flight testing.

Hunter J. Dennison, Nathaniel Michek, Wade Huebsch and Christopher D. Griffin. "Unique Approaches for Developing CFD Coupled 6DOF Simulations When Studying Tumbling Bodies," AIAA 2025-2295. AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum. January 2025. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2025-2295