Dr. Chris Rumsey — NASA and Computational Fluid Dynamics

In this episode of the Neil Ashton podcast, Neil interviews Dr. Chris Rumsey, Research Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center. Chris is one of the main CFD experts at NASA Langley is globally reconised as a leader in CFD, particularly for aeronautical applications.

The conversation focuses on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and turbulence modeling. They discuss Chris's career, his role in public dissemination of CFD methods, and his involvement in the Turbulence Modeling website. They also explore the High Lift Prediction Workshop and the role of machine learning in CFD and turbulence modeling.

The conversation provides insights into working at NASA and the challenges and advancements in CFD and turbulence modeling. In this conversation, Neil and Chris Rumsey discuss the progress and challenges in solving the problem of high-lift aerodynamics in aircraft design. They explore the concept of certification by analysis and the role of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in reducing the need for expensive wind tunnel and flight tests.

They also delve into the use of machine learning in CFD and the challenges of reproducibility. The conversation then shifts to conferences, with Neil and Chris sharing their experiences and favorite events. They conclude by discussing career advice for aspiring aerospace professionals and the unique aspects of working at NASA.

00:00 Introduction to the Neil Ashton podcast 01:09 Focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics and Turbulence Modeling 06:51 Chris Rumsey's Journey to NASA 09:13 From Art to Aeronautical Engineering 13:08 Transitioning to Turbulence Modeling 15:34 The Origins of the Turbulence Modeling Website 20:40 Verification and Validation in Turbulence Modeling 24:34 The Role of Machine Learning in Turbulence Modeling 26:00 Advancements in High Lift Prediction 27:28 Challenges in High Lift Prediction 28:25 Thoughts on Working at NASA 29:42 Certification by Analysis: Reducing the Cost of Aircraft Certification 31:09 The Role of Machine Learning in CFD and Certification by Analysis 34:03 The Value of Conferences in Networking and Specialized Learning 40:30 Career Advice for Aspiring Aerospace Professionals 48:45 Curating and Documenting Knowledge in the Aerospace Community