The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI) is a non-profit international educational and scientific organization founded in 1956 by a consortium of European countries and the US and Canada. It hosts three departments (aeronautics and aerospace, environmental and applied fluid dynamics, and turbomachinery and propulsion). The VKI undertakes and promotes research in the field of fluid dynamics providing post-graduate education programs and encouraging “training in research through research.” It possesses about fifty different wind tunnels, turbomachinery and other specialized test facilities, some of which are unique or the largest in the world. Both fundamental research and applied aspects of fluid dynamics are studied by its researchers including over 60 PhD candidates in residence. The Aeronautics and Aerospace department has strong connections with ESA, the US Air Force, and NASA, as well as the major industries, universities and research centers related to aerospace applications. VKI is actively involved in the development of innovative air-breathing propulsion system for high speed flight in the stratosphere (STRATOFLY, LAPCAT EC funded projects). VKI is also active on the development of the intake system for air-breathing electric thruster (ESA funded ram-EP derisk technology developments). The VKI organizes 10 to 12 Lecture Series each year, with lecturers and participants from industry, research institutes, government agencies, and academia from Europe and the U.S. The lecture notes of these series are published in monographs that are recognized worldwide as a primary source of information in the field of fluid dynamics.
Relevant publications:
- P. Parodi, D. Le Quang, F. Bariselli, S. Boccelli, Z. Alsalihi and T. Magin. “Study of a collector-intake system for VLEO air-breathing platforms”. International Conference on Flight vehicles, Aerothermodynamics and Re-entry Missions and Engineering (FAR), Monopoli (BA), Italy (2019).
