Andres Adam Receives AIAA Award

July 10, 2020 – Andres Adam, mechanical and aerospace engineering graduate student and 2016 Balsells fellow, will be granted the 2020 Gordon C. Oates Air Breathing Propulsion Graduate Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation. The $1,000 scholarship, sponsored by the AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Technical Committee, supports graduate students conducting research in the air and space sciences.

Adam’s research focuses on the health and economic impact of aircraft noise pollution in urban neighborhoods. Jet engines -- and the air they expel backwards -- are the biggest noise generators in an aircraft. Calculating the impact of noise generated requires expensive computational simulations.

Adam’s goal is to recreate jet noise generation models based on inexpensive simulations known as RANS: a process that involves modeling and understanding how noise is produced by turbulence. Improving the industry's assessments of noise generation will help it design quieter engines.

“When I received the news about this award, I was very excited and motivated to continue my study,” said Adam. “Research awards, no matter how big or little, can brighten a researcher's career and highly motivate them toward new discoveries.”

Adam will be recognized at an awards presentation ceremony at the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, which will be held virtually August 24-26, 2020.

– Megan Lohre