High-speed Vehicle Aerodynamics Lab

The High-speed Vehicle Aerodynamics (HiVA) Laboratory focuses on advancing the understanding and prediction of high-speed gas flows, from continuum to rarefied regimes. The laboratory develops computational models to predict aerothermodynamic phenomena relevant to reusable launch vehicles, re-entry spacecraft, satellites, and planetary exploration missions. A long-term objective is to achieve high-fidelity fluid–structure coupled simulations for re-entering meteoroids.

The laboratory specializes in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for continuum flows and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) for rarefied gas dynamics. Research topics include shock–boundary layer interactions, boundary layer transition, gas–surface interactions, chemical nonequilibrium, and radiation. By combining advanced physical models, high-order numerical schemes, and high-performance computing, HiVA aims to establish predictive tools that directly support aerospace vehicle design and mission success.

In addition to research, the laboratory collaborates with academic, industrial, and government partners, and provides education and mentorship to train the next generation of aerospace engineers and scientists.