Ryan Patterson

University of Michigan

Nearing completion of the sequential undergraduate/graduate studies program in Aerospace Engineering, Ryan Patterson recently decided to continue as a doctoral student in the Aerospace Department. He works with François-Xavier Bagnoud Professor Peretz Friedmann on utilizing active flow control on helicopter rotor blades for noise and vibration reduction. His research involves developing a reduced-order computational model based on computational fluid dynamics data for efficient calculation of aerodynamic loads on a blade. In this way, control studies can be performed to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of the active flow control technology for implementation onto helicopter rotor systems.

In addition to rotorcraft, Ryan is interested in wind energy - to which he gained exposure during an internship at Sandia National Laboratories - and in the work being done to advance and expand the technology in the world energy market.