High-speed Vehicle Aerodynamics Lab

The High-speed Vehicle Aerodynamics (HiVA) Laboratory focuses on advancing the understanding and prediction of high-speed gas flows, spanning 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 thermal-fluid–structure coupled simulations of re-entering meteoroids.

The laboratory specializes in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for continuum flows and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) for rarefied gas dynamics. 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 provides education and mentorship to train the next generation of aerospace engineers and scientists.