People

Craig T. Johansen

Professor, P.Eng  
SSE Research Chair in Aerospace Engineering

Contact Information 
Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering 
Schulich School of Engineering
University of Calgary
2500 University Dr NW
Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 1N4

Telephone: (403) 220-7421
Fax: (403) 282-8406
E-mail: johansen@ucalgary.ca

Education
B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (Queen's University) 2003
M.A.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering (Carleton University) 2005
M.B.A. (Heriot-Watt University) 2006
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Queen's University) 2009

Affiliations
Director of the University of Calgary Aerospace Network (UCAN) 2017-2019 

Employment
Postdoctoral Research Associate (Queen's University) 2009-2010
Postdoctoral Research Associate (NASA Langley) 2010-2011
Assistant Professor (University of Calgary) 2011-2016
Associate Professor (University of Calgary) 2016-Present

Service
Member of Editorial Board for Aerospace Science & Technology 2017-Present
Member of the Aerodynamic Measurement Technology Technical Committee 2012-Present                          

Background
Dr. Johansen's research focuses on areas that involve fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and gas dynamics. The work is motivated to solve problems in high-speed aerodynamics, propulsion, power generation, and explosion safety. His research lab includes several shock tubes with non-intrusive optical diagnostics and a computer cluster for computational fluid dynamics. The lab collaborates with national and international industry and government partners. Active collaborations include Atlantis Research Labs, Lockheed Martin, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC).

Derek Lastiwka

Derek Lastiwka’s research focuses on the application of computational fluid dynamics to quantify the performance and losses of a novel ramjet engine design. The numerical tools used for the analyses are the open-source software OpenFOAM and custom created 1D solvers. The development of custom 1D solver allows the group to explore the design space very quickly and then traditional computational fluid dynamics analyses can then verify and fine tune the design. In addition, Derek’s research is closely tied to the experimental groups work which helps provides reliable numerical tools to quantify and guide the design of the engine and testing that the experimental group should focus on. Derek completed his master’s at the University of Ottawa in May 2009. Between 2009 to 2019 he has been working for various engineering consulting companies primarily using numerical tools to aid in the design of machinery in the energy, oil and gas, medical, mining, material processing, and aerospace industries.

Adrian Garcia

Adrian is a PhD student in the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering department at the University of Calgary having completed his Aerospace Engineering degree at University of Southampton and an M.Sc. at Cranfield University. Adrian’s research focuses on using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for the full-system simulation of a supersonic Small Scale Unmanned Air-Vehicle (SSUAV), considering the different phenomena involved, from external aerodynamics to internal engine operation of a novel ejector-based ramjet engine design. This work is performed using primarily open-source software like OpenFOAM.

Annapurna Basavaraju

Annapurna is a Ph.D. student in the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering department at the University of Calgary. Prior to this, she worked in Propulsion Research Studies for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), India, and has expertise in experimental combustion studies. She also has experimental research experience in working with hydrogen fuelled combustor of aircraft engines from the Institute for Thermal Turbomachinery and Machine Dynamics, Technical University Graz, Austria. She has a master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the ‘University of Applied Sciences, Austria.

Her current research focus is on paraffin wax-based fuels applied to hybrid rocket propulsion. Methods to augment the performance of wax-based fuels through enhanced fuel formulations and improved combustion efficiency are the primary objectives of this work. Additionally, one of the key challenges in paraffin wax is its poor mechanical properties. In her work, she will be experimentally determining the ‘structural failure mode’ that occurs with a ‘fuel sloughing’ event with paraffin fuel.

Rebecca Fyfe

Rebecca’s PhD research relates to the development of hypersonic aeropropulsion technologies for advancing sovereign capability in the field, and counter-hypersonic applications. It includes aspects of test facility design, experimental design, and simulation with the aim of preliminary ground and flight tests. She previously completed an MSc in mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary where her thesis demonstrated sustained autonomous low-speed flight of a novel small-scale supersonic uncrewed aerial vehicle (SSUAV). Her characterization of the SSUAV’s current aerodynamic stability and control performance supports its continued development. Rebecca also holds a BSc in mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary, and a BSc in environmental sciences from the University of Guelph. Her diverse employment background spans multiple industries including aerospace, energy, infrastructure and project management.

Matthew Lo

Matthew is an MSc student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Calgary specializing in CFD. He first obtained his B.Eng in Mechanical and Automation Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 2020, then a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) the next year.

After graduating from HKUST, he became a member of a research team at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPolyU) for a year, focused on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), stability analysis of supersonic/hypersonic flows, and investigated the establishment times of Mach 2.25-5 supersonic flows over a compression corner under different physical conditions numerically.

With his strong background and enthusiasm for CFD and hypervelocity aerodynamics, he joins AERO-CORE and will be doing his research on a supersonic small-scale UAV, assisting the development of the engine in the lab.

Sebastian Leblic de Kozielsk Kossil

Sebastian is a MSc. student who completed a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Calgary in the Spring of 2021. Sebastian’s undergrad background includes 5 years of participation within the U of C’s FSAE team where he spent his last 2 years as the Aerodynamic Lead, developing a high-downforce aerodynamics package for an open-wheel FSAE spec formula car. As part of the AERO-CORE lab team, his research focuses on the application of conceptual design tools to develop a Small-Scale Supersonic UAV (SSSUAV). His research will be centered on developing a design optimization process to supplement the conceptual design phase where variable-fidelity aerodynamic analysis and optimization tools will be used to define aircraft geometry. He will be working with parametric design software and validating the use of design optimization techniques within the context of developing a SSSUAV. The motivation of this research is to provide a reliable process in which the aircraft geometry conceptualization process is streamlined, and design results can be trusted with a high level of confidence.