The Visit of American Experts in Aerodynamics at the University of Nova Gorica and at Pipistrel

Date of publication: 14. 3. 2014
News

On March 13 and 14, 2014, the University of Nova Gorica hosted Prof. Dr. Mark D. Maughmer (Pennsylvania State University) and Prof. Dr. Luigi Martinelli (Princeton University) who are world-famous experts in the area of aerodynamics as well as in planning and development of aircraft components.

The Visit of American Experts in Aerodynamics at the University of Nova Gorica and at Pipistrel

Professor Maughmer is best known for his development of vertical structures at the end of gliders’ wings (called winglets) which have significantly improved glider planes’ flight characteristics and general abilities. Professor Martinelli focuses on the optimization of aerodynamic surfaces, that is, with the help of advanced numeric methods in the dynamics of fluids and the transmission of those into industry.

In the morning, on Thursday, March 13, the guests visited the Pipistrel company, and between 2 pm and 4 pm, they held a lecture at the University of Nova Gorica’s venue in Ajdovščina. As dissertation committee members, they gathered at the Lanthieri Castle on Friday, March 14, at 10 am, as doctoral candidate in Physics from the University of Nova Gorica Matej Andrejašič defended his dissertation titled “Optimization of aerodynamic surfaces using pressure based functionals".

Matej Andrejašič worked on his dissertation under the supervision of prof. dr. Gregor Veblet and prepared it as part of his research work at the Pipistrel company in Ajdovščina, which is world’s leading manufacturer of ultralight motor-gliders and gliders with a supplemental motor. The company which is a true pioneer in the area of alternative aeronautics in Slovenia and wider was founded in 1987 by Ivo Boscarol. Today, the company employs 75 people and they have so far made and sold over 1000 different aircrafts. Furthermore, they have achieved amazing success on a global scale. Among other successes, they won the 2011 NASA challenge called Green Flight Challenge sponsored by Google, and moreover, they came out first in two previous competitions organized by NASA as well.

The research that was done by Matej Andrejašič for his dissertation represents a valid connection between the academic and business sphere and enables the transmission of the most recent research developments into the market. The collaboration between the University of Nova Gorica and Pipistrel company from Ajdovščina also exists in the area of the training of undergraduate students from the School of Applied Sciences, as well as in the research of the bora wind and other atmospheric phenomena in the Vipava Valley, the later in connection with the Center for Atmospheric Research.

Andreja Leban, Public Relations