New Canada Research Chair

Leading expert in adaptive aerodynamics joins Ontario Tech’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science research team

Dr. Horia Hangan, Tier 1 CRC in Adaptive Aerodynamics

Ontario Tech University’s mandate to explore technology for greater societal good and nationally acclaimed research leadership is getting a major boost with the addition of a newly appointed Canada Research Chair (CRC).

Dr. Hangan’s international expertise is in ‘bluff body’ aerodynamics: objects that because of their shape have separated airflow over substantial parts of their surface (such as generic cylinders, cubes, spheres or vehicles).

This CRC will develop novel on-vehicle weatherdata collection systems to investigate the physics of the impact of weather stressors (wind, rain, snow and fog) on autonomous vehicles (AVs). He will collaborate extensively with Ontario Tech’s ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel as well as the university’s Environment Canada Meteorological Supersite at Windfields Farm.

“Through on-road testing and physical simulations in ACE, we will develop weather design cases to improve AV aerodynamics, safety, and sensor functionality,” says Dr. Hangan. “These design cases will inform the AV industry in Canada, elevate the safety of AVs, and accelerate AV implementation in regions with harsh weather conditions.”

Dr. Horia Hangan’s research is mainly in Experimental Fluid Mechanics. He has worked extensively in bluff body aerodynamics, turbulent coherent structure dynamics and aerodynamic control with applications to aero structures, buildings and vehicles. Dr. Hangan developed the experimental simulation of three-dimensional, non-stationary and non-gaussian flows through the concept of the WindEEE Dome.