Overview
Background
David Gildfind’s research is primarily concerned with experimental hypersonics. His research interests include: expansion tube facility development; scramjet propulsion; planetary entry aerothermodynamics; and magnetohydrodynamic aerobraking.
David graduated as an aerospace engineer from RMIT University in 2001. He worked in industry on various aircraft platforms in Australia and overseas (GKN in Melbourne 2002-2003 on A340/A380; Australian Aerospace in Brisbane 2003-2005 on DHC4 Caribou; and Stork Fokker in The Netherlands 2005-2007 on F35-JSF and Gulfstream G6), and retains a strong interest in aircraft structures. He later completed his PhD and post-doctoral work in hypersonics at the University of Queensland (UQ), where he developed the capability for expansion tubes wind tunnels to simulate reallistic scramjet flight trajectories beyond Mach 10. His research in this area includes optimising free-piston driver operation, expansion tube flow condition development, and test flow characterisation.
David became a lecturer at UQ's School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering in 2014, and teaches into aircraft structures, design, and hypersonics. During this time David has initiated a new research program on Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) aerobraking, which was awarded an ARC DECRA fellowship (2017-2020) to experimentally evaluate MHD aerobraking technology for a human mission to Mars. This work continues with ARC Discovery Projects "Magnetohydrodynamic Aerobraking for Spacecraft Entry to Earth's Atmosphere" (2023-2025) and "Effect of Magnetic Field Deflection on Magnetohydrodynamic Heat Shield" (2025-2027), both of which David is leading. These projects are focussing on the development of new MHD aerobraking technology for both small and large scale spacecraft, to reduce spacecraft heating, leading to safer, more efficient, and potentially reusable spacecraft.
Availability
- Dr David Gildfind is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Expansion tube facility development
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Shock tunnel facility development
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Magnetohydrodynamic aerobraking
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Planetary entry aerothermodynamics
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Scramjet propulsion
Research impacts
Expansion tube facility development: expansion tubes are the only hypersonic wind tunnels capable of simulating the final stages of flight for a scramjet powered access-to-space launch vehicle, or of simulating true-flight-velocity aerodynamic flows for Earth return from deep space. Such experiments in a conventional wind tunnel become extraordinarilly difficult for scramjet flight beyond Mach 10 and spacecraft atmospheric entry faster than 7 km/s. Our research into expansion tubes is important because it significantly widens the range of reallistic aerodynamic ground testing which we can perform, paving the way for experimental evaluation of the spacecraft technologies of the future.
Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) aerobraking: The purpose of MHD aerobraking is to mitigate the immense heat loads during spacecrafct atmospheric entry and to facilitate landing on planets with low density atmospheres. Our team at UQ have conducted the first ground test experiments which have simulated this technology at flight-realistic hypervelocity speeds and with the correct electrodynamic boundary conditions around the body. We have been able to conduct magnetic drag measurements and measure the effect of the magnetic field on the shock layer which forms around the vehicle, and are now investigating how this technology can be harnessed in future spacecraft.
Works
Search Professor David Gildfind’s works on UQ eSpace
2013
Conference Publication
Theoretical validation of a test gas substitution for expansion tube simulation of gas giant entry
James, Christopher M., Gildfind, David E., Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2013). Theoretical validation of a test gas substitution for expansion tube simulation of gas giant entry. 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, San Diego, United States, 24-27 June 2013. Red Hook, NY, USA: Curran Associates. doi: 10.2514/6.2013-2506
2013
Conference Publication
Design, operation and testing in expansion tube facilities for super-orbital re-entry
Jacobs, Peter, Morgan, Richard, Brandis, Aaron, Buttsworth, David, Dann, Andrew, D'Souza, Mary, Eichmann, Troy, Gildfind, David, Gollan, Rowan, Jacobs, Carolyn, McGilvray, Matthew, McIntyre, Tim, Mudford, Neil, Porat, Hadas, Potter, Dan and Zander, Fabian (2013). Design, operation and testing in expansion tube facilities for super-orbital re-entry. STO-AVT-VKI Lecture Series Radiation and Gas-Surface Interaction Phenomena in High Speed Re-Entry (2013-AVT-218), Rhode-St-Genèse, Belgium, 6-8 May 2013.
2012
Other Outputs
Development of high total pressure scramjet flow conditions using the X2 expansion tube
Gildfind, David E. (2012). Development of high total pressure scramjet flow conditions using the X2 expansion tube. PhD Thesis, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland.
2012
Conference Publication
Vibration isolation in a free-piston driven Expansion tube
Gildfind, D. E., Morgan, R. G. and Jacobs, P. A. (2012). Vibration isolation in a free-piston driven Expansion tube. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Launceston, Australia, 3-7 December 2012. Hawthorn, VIC, Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.
2012
Conference Publication
Standing shock formation in a non-reflected shock tube
Morgan, R. G., Sheikh, U. A. and Gildfind, D. E. (2012). Standing shock formation in a non-reflected shock tube. International Symposium on Shock Waves (28th, ISSW28), Manchester, U.K., 17-22 July 2011. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-25685-1_87
2012
Conference Publication
Simulation of high mach number scramjet flow conditions using the X2 expansion tube
Gildfind, David E., Morgan, Richard G., McGilvray, Matthew and Jacobs, Peter (2012). Simulation of high mach number scramjet flow conditions using the X2 expansion tube. 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Tours, France, 24-28 September 2012. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2012-5954
2012
Conference Publication
Upgrade of the X3 super-orbital expansion tube
Dann, A. G., Morgan, R. G., Gildfind, D. E., Jacobs, P. A., McGilvray, M. and Zander, F. (2012). Upgrade of the X3 super-orbital expansion tube. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Launceston, Australia, 3-7 December 2012. Hawthorn, VIC, Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.
2012
Conference Publication
Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
Gildfind, D. E., Morgan, R. G., McGilvray, M., Jacobs, P. A., Stalker, R. J. and Eichmann, T. N. (2012). Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions. International Symposium on Shock Waves (28th, ISSW, 2011), Manchester, U. K., 17-22 July 2011. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-25685-1_150
2012
Conference Publication
High mach number and total pressure flow conditions for scramjet testing
Gildfind, D. E., Morgan, R. G., McGilvray, M. and Jacobs, P. A. (2012). High mach number and total pressure flow conditions for scramjet testing. International Symposium on Shock Waves (28th, ISSW28), Manchester, U.K., 17-22 July 2011. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-25685-1_42
2012
Conference Publication
Toward the full CFD Simulation of expansion tubes
Sancho, J., Gildfind, D. E., Jacobs, P. A. and Morgan, R. G. (2012). Toward the full CFD Simulation of expansion tubes. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Launceston, Australia, 3-7 December 2012. Hawthorn, VIC, Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.
2011
Journal Article
Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions
Gildfind, D. E., Morgan, R. G., McGilvray, M., Jacobs, P. A., Stalker, R. J. and Eichmann, T. N. (2011). Free-piston driver optimisation for simulation of high Mach number scramjet flow conditions. Shock Waves, 21 (6), 559-572. doi: 10.1007/s00193-011-0336-9
2010
Book
X2 Lightweight Piston Experimental Test Campaign, November 2009 to February 2010: Analysis and Observations.
Gildfind, David (2010). X2 Lightweight Piston Experimental Test Campaign, November 2009 to February 2010: Analysis and Observations.. Technical Report 2010/04. Division of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland.
2010
Conference Publication
CFD Tools for Design and Simulation of Transient Flows in Hypersonic Facilities
Jacobs, P. A., Gollan, R. J., Potter, D. F., Gildfind, D. E., Eichmann, T. N., O'Flaherty, B. F. and Buttsworth, D. R. (2010). CFD Tools for Design and Simulation of Transient Flows in Hypersonic Facilities. AVT-186 RTO AVT/VKI Lecture Series - Aerothermodynamic design, review on ground testing and CFD, Genese, Belgium, 29 March-01 April 2010. Genese, Belgium: von Karman Institute.
2010
Conference Publication
Design of lightweight pistons for the X2 and X3 expansion tube free-piston drivers
Gildfind, D. E., Morgan, R. G., McGilvray, M., Jacobs, P. A., Eichmann, T., Stalker, R. J. and Teakle, P. (2010). Design of lightweight pistons for the X2 and X3 expansion tube free-piston drivers. 17AFMC: 17th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 5-9 December 2010. Auckland, New Zealand: The University of Auckland.
2008
Book
Stress analysis of a new lightweight piston for X2
Gildfind, David (2008). Stress analysis of a new lightweight piston for X2. 2009/16. Division of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Queensland.
2002
Conference Publication
Derivation of a Harm Metric to Assess Total Occupant Injury – Application to a Crash Pulse Optimisation Study
Gildfind, David and Rees, David (2002). Derivation of a Harm Metric to Assess Total Occupant Injury – Application to a Crash Pulse Optimisation Study. Young Automotive and Transport Executives Conference 2002, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 29-30 October 2002. SAE Australasia.
2002
Conference Publication
Crash Pulse Optimisation for Minimum Occupant Harm - A New Methodology to Calculate Fully Optimised Crash Pulses
Gildfind, David and Rees, David (2002). Crash Pulse Optimisation for Minimum Occupant Harm - A New Methodology to Calculate Fully Optimised Crash Pulses. Young Automotive and Transport Executives Conference 2002, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 29-30 October 2002. SAE Australasia.
2002
Conference Publication
Acceleration-Displacement Crash Pulse Optimisation – A New Methodology to Optimise Vehicle Response for Multiple Impact Speeds
Gildfind, David and Rees, David (2002). Acceleration-Displacement Crash Pulse Optimisation – A New Methodology to Optimise Vehicle Response for Multiple Impact Speeds. Young Automotive and Transport Executives Conference 2002, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 29-30 October 2002. SAE Australasia.
2001
Other Outputs
Vehicle crash pulse optimisation
Gildfind, David (2001). Vehicle crash pulse optimisation. B.A. Thesis, Departmen of Aerospace Engineering, RMIT University.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr David Gildfind is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Magnetohydrodynamic Aerobraking for Spacecraft Entry to Earth's Atmosphere
UQ's Centre for Hypersonics was recently awarded an Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant to study Magnetohydrodynamic Aerobraking for spacecraft atmospheric entry to Earth. A spaceship returning from Mars will undergo unprecedented aerodynamic heating as it enters Earth's atmosphere. Magnetohydroynamic (MHD) aerobraking involves applying a strong magnetic field to the plasma which forms around the spacecraft at these speeds, theoretically protecting it by reducing structural heat loads and enabling less severe flight trajectories. Our research aims to experimentally study this technology for Earth return from deep space, and it is significant because it will evaluate a new mechanism for managing the tremendous heat loads of planetary entry. The expected outcome and benefit will be development of a new technology to reduce spacecraft heating, leading to safer, more efficient, and potentially reusable spacecraft.
There are four PhD topics planned as part of this Discovery Project:
- MHD drag measurement (experimental)
- MHD surface heat flux and shock layer characterisation (experimental)
- Zeeman effect on radiating hypersonic flows (experimental/numerical)
- CFD modelling of MHD flows (numerical)
This project is an international collaboration between Australia and Japan to advance MHD aerobraking technology. The experiments will be performed on UQ's X2 and X3 free-piston driven expansion tubes, as well as Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's HEK-X facility at Kakuda. This is a great opportunity for the successful student to develop expertise in: spacecraft ground testing using the world's fastest aerodynamic test facilities; state-of-the-art diagnostic and numerical techniques; and to play a role in developing a potentially ground-breaking future spacecraft heat mitigation technology.
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Effect of Magnetic Field Deflection on Magnetohydrodynamic Heat Shield
Four projects are available:
- Magnetic field deflection in hypersonic MHD flow: This project aims to experimentally reproduce and characterise the phenomenon of magnetic field deflection in hypersonic ground test experiments.
- Bow shock structure in high magnetic Reynolds number MHD flow: This project aims to isolate and experimentally measure the effect of magnetic field deflection on the shock stand-off and shock shape for hypersonic flow around a blunt body such as sphere or capsule.
- Trajectory optimisation for atmospheric entry with MHD flow control: This project aims to determine the optimum way to use MHD flow control during atmospheric entry.
- Geometry and magnet optimisation for MHD-assisted spacecraft: This project aims to determine how MHD drag can be maximised by optimising forebody contour and electromagnet configuration.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Effect of magnetohydrodynamic aerobraking on convective and radiative heat transfer during atmospheric reentry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Mee, Professor Tim McIntyre
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimised use of Magnetohydrodynamic Aerobraking for Planetary Atmospheric Entry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Vincent Wheatley, Associate Professor Rowan Gollan
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Doctor Philosophy
Magnetohydrodynamic flow control for atmospheric entry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Mee, Professor Tim McIntyre
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Doctor Philosophy
Experimental Investigation of Turbulence Chemistry Interaction in High Enthalpy Flows
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anand Veeraragavan, Dr Chris James
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Magnetohydrodynamic Aerobraking for Earth Re-entry from Deep Space
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Magnetohydrodynamic drag force experiments in expansion tunnels
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Vincent Wheatley, Professor Tim McIntyre
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Development of an Extended Test Time Operating Mode for a Large Reflected Shock Tunnel Facility
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Ground Testing at Superorbital Flight Conditions in a Large Scale Expansion Tube
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Morgan
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Free-jet testing of a Mach 12 scramjet in an expansion tube
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Morgan
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Spectral Analysis of Atomic Argon Radiation in an Expanding Hypersonic Flow
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Radiation from Simulated Atmospheric Entry into the Gas Giants
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Professor Richard Morgan
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
SCRAMJET TESTING AT HIGH TOTAL PRESSURE
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Morgan
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr David Gildfind directly for media enquiries about:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Expansion tubes
- Experimentation
- Hypersonics
- Reflected Shock Tunnels
- Wind tunnel testing
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