Experimental Aerodynamics and Propulsion Lab
Experimental Aerodynamics and Propulsion Lab
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The research of the EAP Lab targets the development of cutting-edge techniques that merge experimental aerodynamics with machine learning, enhancing the control of turbulent flows. The experimental activities primarily target aerodynamics and propulsion-related aspects such as drag reduction, noise control, and mixing enhancement. We strive to create practical solutions that improve aerodynamics and propulsion systems’ performance, safety, and sustainability.

Research lines
Advanced flow diagnostics
We work on the development and improvement of measurement tools for turbulent and complex flows. Our contributions have been mostly in the field of PIV (planar, stereoscopic and volumetric) and IR thermography. Recent efforts include the application of data-driven methods to improve the measurement spatial and temporal resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.
Machine-learning sensing and control
We investigate data-driven tools to analyze numerical and experimental data. The tools we employ are aimed at flow sensing, model order reduction and control. Current activities include the sensing of large-scale motions in turbulent boundary layers and heat transfer enhancement with closed-loop control.
Wall-bounded turbulence
Turbulent boundary layers (TBLs) are of paramount importance given their ubiquitous presence in many relevant fluid-flow problems such as the flow over wings, land and sea vehicles, turbines, compressors, etc. The focus of our research is on the coherent structures´ organization, modeling and manipulation.
Convective heat transfer
Convective heat transfer is relevant in countless industrial applications (turbomachinery, manufacturing, food processing, etc.). We use optical methods and data-driven techniques to investigate the flow features which are more intensively active in convective heat transfer phenomena.
People
Team
Faculty
PostDocs
- Guy Cornejo Maceda
- Antonio Cuellar Martin
- Alvaro Moreno Soto
PhD Students
- Tani Angiero
- Junwei Chen
- Firoozeh Foroozan
- Luca Franceschelli
- Qihong Lorena Li Hu
- Luigi Marra
- Ricardo Moreno Benavides
- Alicia Rodríguez Asensio
- Lucas Schneeberger
- Iacopo Tirelli
Active competitive research projects
Current projects
- NEXTFLOW: Next-generation flow diagnostics for control.
ERC Starting Grant (PI: S. Discetti, UC3M), 2021-2025 - ACCREDITATION: Artificial-intelligence active flow control for reductIon of transport emissions.
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PI: S. Discetti and A. Ianiro, UC3M), 2022-2024 - JAMAICAM: Diagnóstico del ruido de chorro producido en aeronaves mediante cámaras acústicas masivas.
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PI: M. Raiola, L.A. Azpicueta) - HUMANIC: Human – Centric Indoor Climate for Healthcare Facilities.
MSCA Doctoral Network (PI: A.Ianiro), 2023-2026 - EXCALIBUR: Extraction of machine learning strategies for turbulent flow control
Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PI: A. Ianiro, S. Discetti, UC3M), 2023-2026 - PERSEVERE: Physics-informed nEuRal networks for SEVERe wEather event prediction.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship (PI: Álvaro Moreno Soto, UC3M), 2023-2025
PhD theses
Theses list
- Design of aeroacoustic-quality jet facility and active flow control solution for noise reduction
Luca Franceschell (ongoing) Supervisors: S. Discetti, M.Raiola - Machine-learning-based flow control
Alberto Solera Rico (ongoing) Supervisors: S. Discetti, C. Sanmiguel Vila - Model Predictive Control applied to turbulent flow
Luigi Marra (ongoing) Supervisors: S. Discetti, A. Meilán-Vila - Closed-loop flow control in turbulent propulsion flows
Antonio Cuellar-Martín (ongoing) Supervisors: S. Discetti, A. Ianiro - Data-driven enhancement of optical measurement techniques
Iacopo Tirelli (ongoing) Supervisors: S. Discetti, A. Ianiro - Complete flow description from combination of incomplete measurements
Junwei Chen (ongoing) Supervisors: S. Discetti, M.Raiola - Detection and control of large-scale motions in wall-bounded turbulent flows
Firoozeh Foroozan (ongoing) Supervisors: A. Ianiro, S. Discetti - Convective heat transfer control in turbulent boundary layers
Rodrigo Castellanos García de Blas (2022) Supervisors: S. Discetti, A. Ianiro
Currently Researcher at INTA - Sensing coherent structures from the wall
Alejandro Güemes Jimenez (2021) Supervisors: A. Ianiro, S. Discetti
Currently Data Scientist at Boeing - Turbulent boundary layers with adverse pressure gradient
Carlos Sanmiguel Vila (2019) Supervisors: S. Discetti, A. Ianiro
Outstanding thesis award UC3M
Currently Científico Titular at INTA - Empirical eigenfunctions: application in unsteady aerodynamics
Marco Raiola (2017) Supervisors: A. Ianiro, S. Discetti
Currently Associate Professor in the EAP group (UC3M) - Three-dimensional organization and heat transfer of jets with fractal generated turbulence
Gioacchino Cafiero (2016) Supervisors: T. Astarita (Univ. of Naples), S. Discetti
Currently Assistant Professor at Politecnico di Torino (Italy) - Investigation of Synthetic Jets Heat Transfer and Flow Field
Carlo Salvatore Greco (2015) Supervisors: G. Cardone (Univ. of Naples), A. Ianiro
Currently Assistant Professor at University of Naples Federico II (Italy)
Open-source codes and repositories
View list
Collaborations
Collaboration list
- Tommaso Astarita, Gennaro Cardone, Carlo Salvatore Greco, Industrial Engineering Department, University of Naples Federico II
- Woutijn Baars, Marios Kotsonis, Fulvio Scarano, Andrea Sciacchitano, Aerodynamics, TU Delft
- Gabriele Bellani, Alessandro Talamelli, Universitá Alma Mater Studiorum di Bologna
- Gioacchino Cafiero, Jacopo Serpieri, Francesco Avallne, Politecnico di Torino
- Yingzheng Liu, Di Peng, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Miguel Alfonso Mendez, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics
- Bernd Noack, HIT Shenzhen
- Daniele Ragni, Aeroacoustics group, TU Delft
- Onofrio Semeraro, Lionel Mathelin, CNRS-LISN
- Ricardo Vinuesa, KTH, Department of Mechanics
- Chris Willert, German Aerospace Center
Contacts

Stefano Discetti
Full Professor
ERC Starting Grantee
Office 7.1.H11 | Tel: +34 916248235
Research Topics: PIV, flow control, machine learning


Marco
Raiola
Associate Professor
Office 7.1.H.13 | Tel: +34916248218
Research Topics: Flapping wings, experimental fluid mechanics