Pioneering hypersonic researcher earns AIAA award
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) selected The University of Texas at Arlington’s Luca Maddalena for its 2023 Ground Testing Award, a top award in the field.
Maddalena, professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is the director of UT Arlington’s Aerodynamic Research Center (ARC), which contains the only arc-heated hypersonic wind tunnel at a U.S. university. The award citation reads “For pioneering contributions in the development of arc-heated test facilities, advanced optical diagnostics and data processing.”
Maddalena, a pioneer in establishing and validating key measurements in hypersonic testing, received the award at the 2023 AIAA AVIATION Forum and Exposition in San Diego, California.
“I’m very thankful for the award, which shows that people are seeing what we’re doing on the international scene,” he said.
Since the wind tunnel came online in 2019, Maddalena and his research colleagues have received millions of dollars in federal research funds for hypersonics and counter-hypersonics research that require this unique facility. They’ve also achieved two world-first measurements of velocity and species composition in plasma flow.
The Office of Naval Research has provided critical funding support for research efforts at the ARC, Maddalena said.
Established in 1975, the Ground Testing Award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or effective utilization of technology, procedures, facilities or modeling techniques for flight simulation, space simulation, propulsion testing, aerodynamic testing or other ground testing associated with aeronautics and astronautics. This prestigious award is proudly sponsored by the AIAA Ground Testing Technical Committee.
Erian Armanios, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, said Maddalena’s AIAA award is an indicator of the high-quality scientific research underway at the ARC.
“Dr. Maddalena is standing among pioneers recognized with the AIAA Ground Testing Award,” Armanios said.