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News

Plane ideas may soar high

UH professor working to save fuel, expedite takeoffs for aircraft 

by ANNE-MARIE NGUYEN
The Daily Cougar

Mechanical engineering professor Fazle Hussain has developed a concept that will increase turbulence but decrease time between takeoffs for airplanes.

"I anticipate development … of this concept in real aircrafts," Hussain said. "Which may mean employment of devices near wing tips during takeoff and landing but retraction during cruise."

Anything that flies has a trailing vortex, Hussain said. Normally, the trailing vortices convert into turbulence, but by enhancing turbulence, the process accelerates, and the dangerous winds caused by the vortices decay quicker.

The idea is to hasten turbulence development in order to shorten the air vortices behind the plane -- a problem that occurs after takeoff. As such, the churning air settles down sooner, and another airplane can take off from the runway.

Lagging time between takeoffs can lead to flight delays and runway congestion.

In the past, the solution was to build new runways, which can cost up to $2 billion.

Turbulence alone is very difficult to understand, Hussain said. 

After conceiving the idea, Hussain constructed a computer model for simulation purposes. 

By solving problems with the model, an in-flight experiment can be considered.

Another Hussain explores involves drag reduction. Decreasing drag on airplanes or submarines can prove a vital fuel-saving technique. 

Hussain seeks to reduce drag by up to 20 percent, which could save the airline industry millions of dollars.

The current idea focuses on changing aircraft surfaces.

Placing dimples on the surface of the craft creates suction and blowing, which can alter the flow pattern and reduce drag.

One method might be to place microelectromechanical systems -- tiny silicon chips with electronic circuitry -- on the surface to vary the flow.

"Hence, it saves fuel," Hussain said.

Hussain founded the Aerodynamic and Turbulence Laboratory at UH in 1973 and has won awards from the American Physical Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
 

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