Project Grant 2622470
- The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded the University of South Carolina $267,000 on July 15, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to investigate droplet impact and fragmentation on rotating aircraft propeller blades. The project combines advanced experiments and high-fidelity simulations to develop a predictive framework for how raindrops interact with spinning propellers. Experiments will employ...
- Iowa State University will receive $406,601 from the National Science Foundation under the Engineering federal grant program (CFDA 47.041) for a project grant titled "Collaborative Research: Droplet Breakup in Homogeneous Turbulence: Model Validation through Experiments and Direct Numerical Simulations" from February 15, 2022 to January 31, 2025. The university will conduct a series of experiments to measure droplet breakup under controlled turbulent conditions. High-speed video will...
- This $620,900 federal Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) will enable Iowa State University to conduct an integrated numerical and experimental study of wind-driven water film flow dynamics pertinent to wind turbine icing phenomena. The overarching goal is to advance the understanding of complex multiphase flow dynamics that contribute to wind turbine icing, which can lead to significant power loss and operational costs in the...
- The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded Worcester Polytechnic Institute $272,110 on August 15, 2026, for collaborative research on thermal transport and freezing mechanics of supercooled water droplets impacting superhydrophobic and ultrasonically vibrating surfaces, with application to aircraft and wind turbine de-icing under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041). The research develops theory, methodology, and...
- The National Science Foundation Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation awarded Iowa State University of Science and Technology $549,499 on September 1, 2026, under the Engineering assistance program (CFDA 47.041) to develop autonomous artificial intelligence agents that detect and correct physics modeling errors in computer-based engineering designs, enabling reliable translation of designs into real-world systems across disciplines including fluid mechanics, structural...
- The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded Cornell University $340,000 on February 15, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to investigate non-continuum hydrodynamic interactions in water droplet growth within warm cumulus clouds. The research combines large-eddy simulations with theoretical models to predict droplet size distributions and growth rates in tropical maritime clouds, addressing a critical gap in...
- Federal Project Grant Award Summary Iowa State University of Science and Technology received a $319,867 Phase I project grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) on July 15, 2025, with completion targeted for June 30, 2026. The award supports the establishment of an open-source ecosystem for the DAFOAM (Distributed Aircraft Multidisciplinary Optimization) design automation tool, transitioning it from a specialized...
- The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded The University of Iowa $508,573 on May 1, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to quantify how flow blockage affects local scour around bridge piers in laboratory experiments and to develop methodology correcting for these effects to improve full-scale pier design predictions. The research will evaluate the influence of blockage ratio—the ratio between pier width and...
- The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded the University of Alabama in Huntsville $245,969 on February 15, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to investigate non-continuum hydrodynamic interactions in the growth of water droplets within warm cumulus clouds. The project develops an integrated large-eddy simulation and theoretical cloud model to capture droplet-scale physics across continuum and non-continuum...
- The National Science Foundation Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation awarded Iowa State University of Science and Technology $420,000 on August 1, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to research powder-decorated laser powder bed fusion and spattering suppression in additive manufacturing of metallic materials. The research aims to mitigate spattering-induced defects during laser-based metal additive manufacturing by decorating metal powders with ultra-thin,...
The National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded Iowa State University of Science and Technology $308,000 on July 15, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to investigate droplet impact and fragmentation on rotating aircraft propeller blades. The research combines advanced experiments and high-fidelity simulations to examine how surface curvature, rotation, and impact location influence droplet spreading, splashing, and breakup when raindrops strike rapidly spinning propellers. High-speed imaging and flow diagnostics will measure droplet deformation, liquid-sheet formation, and secondary droplet production on rotating airfoil and propeller models, while simulations will resolve coupled motion of air, liquid, and solid surfaces to reveal instability mechanisms. The project aims to develop a predictive framework for understanding how water droplets interact with rotating aerodynamic surfaces, with the goal of improving the reliability and safety of unmanned aircraft operating in adverse weather. The research will provide interdisciplinary training for undergraduate and graduate students, create educational materials for engineering courses, and engage K-12 students and teachers through summer camps, laboratory demonstrations, and outreach activities at Iowa State University and the University of South Carolina. Performance takes place in Ames, Iowa, with a period of performance from the award date through June 30, 2029.
Mod # | Description | ReasonForModification | Federal Obligation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $308.0k | 7/16/26 |