David A. Peters email: dap@me.wustl.edu Jolley Hall 308 Phone: +1 (314) 935-4337 FAX: +1 (314) 935-4014 Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Structural Engineering Washington University Campus Box 1185 St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

Prof. Peters is the recipient of the 2008 Nikolsky Honorary Lectureship given by the AHS International, the world's premier vertical flight society. The award is given to "an individual who reflects the highest ideals, goals, and achievements in the field of helicopter and V/STOL (vertical and short take-off and landing) aircraft engineering and development." Dr. Peters gave his Lecture at the Society's annual meeting in Montreal, Canada, on April 29. A copy of the Power Point presentation may be downloaded by clicking here.

David A. Peters
  The McDonnell Douglas Professor of Engineering, and
  Director, Center for Computational Mechanics

• Ph.D., Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, 1974
• M.S., Applied Mechanics, Washington University, 1970
• B.S., Applied Mechanics, Washington University, 1969

CV may be downloaded here.

 Background :

• Associate Engineer, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co., St. Louis, MO (1969-1970)
• Research Scientist, Army Air Mobility R&D Laboratory, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (1970-1975)
• Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (1975-1985)
• Professor Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (1985-1991)
  • Director of Georgia Tech NASA Space Grant Consortium (1989-1991)
  • Adjunct Professor (1991- present)
• Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO (1991 - present)
  • Director of Washington University Center for Computational Mechanics (1992 - present)
  • Associate Director of Georgia Tech/Washington University Center of Excellence for Rotor Technology (1991- present)

 Research Interests:

• Rotor Wake Modeling
  During the flight of airplane propellers, helicopters, and tilt rotors, the rotor wake undergoes important dynamic motions that profoundly influence vehicle dynamics. This project seeks to correctly model this behavior.
  
  
• Aeroelasticity
  Aeroelastic modelling of helicopter rotors with unsteady aerodynamics and nonlinear structural deformations. Computation of vibration and stability.
  
  
• Response to Stall
  Structural/aerodynamic interaction due to dynamic stall of wings and rotors. Trim methodologies in the presence of stall.
  
  
• Trim and Stability
  Solution of rotor dynamic equations with engine dynamics and multiple rotors involves solution of periodic-coefficient differential equations. This task deals with finding efficient solution strategies for this problem.

 Graduate Research Associates:

• Cristina Garcia-Duffy
• Loren Ahaus

  Recent Publications:

• Peters, David A., Hsieh, Mong-Che, and Torrero, Almudena, “A State-Space Airloads Theory for Flexible Airfoils,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 51, No. 4, October 2007, pp. 329-342.
  
  
• Garcia-Duffy, Cristina, and Peters, David A., “Optimum Performance of Lifting Rotors in Hover,” AHS Specialists’ Conference on Aeromechanics, San Francisco, January 23-25, 2008.
  
  
• Thepvongs, Smith, Cesnik, Carlos E.S., Palacios, Rafael, and Peters, David A., “Finite-State Aeroelastic Modeling of Rotating Wings with Deformable Airfoils,” Proceedings of the 64th Annual National Forum of the American Helicopter Society, Montreal, Canada, April 29 – May 1, 2008.
  
  
• Bain, Jeremy, Sankar, Lakshmi, Prasad, J.V.R., Peters, David, and He, Chengjian, “Computational Modeling of Dynamically Deformable Leading Edge in High Speed Forward Flight,” Proceedings of the AIAA 4th Flow Control Conference, Seattle, Washington, June 23-26, 2008
  
  
• Peters, David A., “Two-Dimensional Incompressible Unsteady Airfoil Theory -- An Overview,” Journal of Fluids and Structures, Vol. 24, No. 3, July 2008, pp. 295-312.
  
  
• Ahaus, Loren, and Peters, David, “Correlating Unsteady Airloads Theory and Oscillating Airfoil Data with Dynamic Stall,” Proceedings of the 34th European Rotorcraft Forum, Liverpool, England, September 16-19, 2008.
  

 Nontechnical Publications:

• The Many Faces of Biblical Humor, Hamilton Books, Lanham, MD. For more information, visit the University Press website.

Other Publications

 Additional Contact Information:

Center for Computational Mechanics (Urbauer 113D): 935-6012