Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Energy
Energy

Welcome to the Center for Flow Physics and Control (CeFPaC)

Founded in 2012, the mission of CeFPaC is to conduct research  in flow physics, prediction, modeling and control.  The fundamental research is aimed at verifying or developing theories for fluid dynamic behavior, and the application research is to implement these theories towards controlling realistic flows. The center has two main thrusts: (i) Aerodynamics (aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles), and (ii) wind energy (smart wind turbine blades, building integrated wind, and smart buildings).

The research at CeFPaC is interdisciplinary where projects span from designing and testing of smart blades for wind turbines to developing new techniques for reducing aircraft drag.  CeFPaC team members come from multiple departments and schools at RPI, and funding for the center comes from industry (Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and more), federal agencies (NSF, AFOSR, ONR, AFRL, NASA), state agencies (NYSERDA and NYSTAR), and international (Israeli Ministry of Defense).
 

The research at CeFPaC is interdisciplinary where projects span from designing and testing of smart blades for wind turbines to developing new techniques for reducing aircraft drag.  CeFPaC team members come from multiple departments and schools at RPI, and funding for the center comes from industry (Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and more), federal agencies (NSF, AFOSR, ONR, AFRL, NASA), state agencies (NYSERDA and NYSTAR), and international (Israeli Ministry of Defense).

Recent News

Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering Invites Community to Inaugural Technology Showcase
This all-day event will include speakers, presentations and lab tours highlighting how New York’s Capital Region is advancing technology. Please register online.  When October 25, 2023 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Where Heffner Alumni House 1301 Peoples Ave. Troy, NY 12180
Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Dynamics Expert Michael Amitay Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Dynamics Expert Michael Amitay Elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Michael Amitay, James L. Decker ’45 Endowed Professor in Aerospace Engineering and director for the Center for Flow Physics and Control (CeFPaC), was elected as a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. The society is the only international professional body working to advance aeronautical art, science, and engineering around the world. With more than 25,000 members and corporate partners, the society is dedicated to moving research forward in the aerospace aviation and space communities through information sharing.
Rensselaer Professor Michael Amitay To Conduct Research That Will Assist in the Design of Ultra-efficient Aircraft
Rensselaer Professor Michael Amitay To Conduct Research That Will Assist in the Design of Ultra-efficient Aircraft
Rensselaer Professor Michael Amitay has been awarded $800,000 from the Department of Defense as part of the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) to engage in research to advance the study of unsteady aerodynamics.
Greater Aircraft Efficiency Sought Through Improved Air Flow Control Techniques
Greater Aircraft Efficiency Sought Through Improved Air Flow Control Techniques
The way that air moves over, around, or under an aircraft can greatly affect its aerodynamics. When air flow separates from the wings of a plane, for instance, the change in pressure on the vehicle can reduce pilot control or cause the aircraft to stall out. The development of more effective air flow control techniques depends on a better understanding of flow separation that occurs around aircraft of different shapes and sizes.
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