Aerospace engineering professor named ASME Fellow

"I am honored to be elected an ASME Fellow," Khare said. "I have been fortunate to learn from and work with so many wonderful students, colleagues, and mentors over the years, and this recognition really reflects their support as much as my own work." 

Khare joined the UC College of Engineering and Applied Science in 2017 and now serves as the head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. He and his group at the UC Hypersonics Lab are exploring the fluid physics relevant to supersonic and hypersonic flight. These are speeds up to five times the speed of sound. 

His research work seeks to overcome barriers to hypersonic flight. When aircraft reach speeds that high, they heat up, reaching temperatures of up to 5,000 degrees Celsius, almost as hot as the surface of the sun. 

"In addition to the propulsion-related challenges to make hypersonic flight possible, the other more critical bottleneck is to find materials or cooling solutions that will enable the physical structure of the aircraft to withstand the speeds we want to go," he said. 

At this speed, aircraft encounter unique fluid dynamics. Khare's team is looking at new propulsion systems necessary to reach speeds of this magnitude, including rotating detonation engines and liquid- and gas-fueled engines. The team uses computer simulations to study the fundamentals of these systems. 

Khare has led several recent projects in aviation efficiency and safety since joining CEAS. The phenomenon of hypersonic flight is of particular interest for military applications, and Khare has worked with the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. The broader goal with much of his research is to get a better understanding of how propulsion systems work and behave at these speeds. This knowledge can be used to improve future engine and aircraft manufacturing.