
Professor Mark Lowenberg
M.Sc.(Eng.)(Witw.), PhD (Bristol)
Expertise
I research nonlinear flight dynamics and control: modeling & simulation, bifurcation analysis and multi-degree-of-freedom wind tunnel testing; these span numerous aerospace dynamics topics. Also environmental impact of aviation.
Current positions
Professor of Flight Dynamics
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Contact
Media contact
If you are interested in speaking to this expert, contact the University’s Media & PR Team on
Research interests
Prof. Lowenberg is a member of the Dept. of Aerospace Engineering and Head of the Dynamics and Control Research Group. His principal research interest is nonlinear flight dynamics in general, including related wind tunnel experimentation, and in the use of bifurcation analysis to study nonlinear systems in particular. This work was instrumental in initiating bifurcation-based flight dynamics studies in the UK, following a number of research contracts with the then Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). These led DERA to invest in both in-house bifurcation analysis capability and other external contracts aimed at refining the techniques and software for flight dynamics applications. More recently, Lowenberg and his research collaborators have focused not only flight dynamics applications (with Airbus and NASA Langley Research Center) but also aircraft ground manoeuvres and landing gear shimmy analysis (with Airbus) and on periodically forced systems, namely rotor stability (with AgustaWestland Helicopters) and flapping-wing vehicle flight.
The experimental work is presently aimed at the development of a novel wind tunnel multi-degree-of-freedom dynamic test rig for improving the understanding of aircraft behaviour during manoeuvres involving nonlinear/unsteady aerodynamics. The 'manoeuvre rig' allows motions in up to 5DOF under conditions that replicate the onset of departure/upset behaviour, and is designed to be used both to help develop mathematical modelling techniques for such conditions, and to 'physically simulate' responses in a manner as close as possible to free flight. This is a collaborative effort involving Prof M. Goman at De Montfort University and the IIT Kanpur.
Lowenberg has been a member of the AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Technical Committee (and Technical Co-Chair of the 2012 AIAA Atmospheric Flight Dynamics conference) and previously the AIAA Guidance, Navigation & Control Technical Committee and the Royal Aeronautical Society Aerodynamics Committee. He has served on the EPSRC Peer Review College since 2002. He has co-created (with Prof. Mikhail Goman of De Montfort University/TsAGI) an MSc module/short course on Nonlinear Flight Mechanics.
In addition to research and postgraduate supervision (has or is supervisor/co-supervisor to more than 20 PhD's), Prof. Lowenberg teaches subjects in the 2nd year Flight Mechanics unit, 3rd year Experimental Aerodynamics and the final year Aircraft Dynamics & Control unit in the Masters in Aeronautical Engineering degree programme; and supervises 3rd and 4th year projects, including the final-year Design Project.
Prof. Lowenberg was Senior Tutor and 3rd Year Tutor in the Department during academic year 2012-13, and Head of Department from 2007 to 2011.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Discipline Hopping for Environmental Solutions: Aerospace/Atmospheric Chemistry
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Principal Investigator
Description
Three-month secondment of Senior RA from Atmospheric Chemistry to Aerospace Engineering in order to facilitate atmospheric modelling for mitigation of non-CO2 emissions on climate impact.Managing organisational unit
Department of Aerospace EngineeringDates
01/01/2022 to 31/03/2022
Mitigation of non-CO2 climate impact of civil aviation - Aerospace Engineering/Atmospheric Chemistry collaboration
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Principal Investigator
Description
This project connects strong foundations in Aerospace and Atmospheric Chemistry in order to develop tools and recommendations to reduce the impact of non-CO2 emissions from civil aviation on the climate.…Managing organisational unit
Department of Aerospace EngineeringDates
01/10/2020 to 01/04/2024
Experimental Flight Dynamics Testing for Highly Flexible Aircraft
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of Aerospace EngineeringDates
01/09/2020 to 31/08/2023
ALPES
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Principal Investigator
Description
Aircraft Loads Prediction using Enhanced Simulation (ALPES) is an EC FP7 Marie Curie European Industrial Doctorate Training Network. The aim of the network is to improve the prediction accuracy and…Managing organisational unit
Department of Aerospace EngineeringDates
01/10/2013 to 30/09/2017
AEROELASTIC AND NON-LINEAR STRUCTURAL DYNAMIC INTERACTIONS OF SLENDER STRUCTURES WITH RB1311
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Department of Aerospace EngineeringDates
01/08/2006 to 01/08/2011
Thesis supervisions
Development and evaluation of a wind tunnel manoeuvre rig
Supervisors
An investigation into the use of a pendulum support rig for aerodynamic modelling
Supervisors
Investigation into Rotor Blade Stability in Autorotation Using Bifurcation and Continuation Methods
Supervisors
Extending Nonlinear Frequency Analysis to Flight Dynamics and Control Problems
Supervisors
Robust linear and nonlinear modelling and analysis approaches for uncertain aeroelastic systems
Supervisors
Virtual Flight Testing in a Wind Tunnel Using a Manoeuvre Rig
Supervisors
Global and regional modelling of trace gases and oxygenated volatile organic compounds
Supervisors
Identifying the mode and impact of technological substitutions
Supervisors
Nonlinear Dynamics of High-Aspect-Ratio Wings
Supervisors
Guidance and Control Elements for Improved Access to Space
Supervisors
Publications
Recent publications
07/01/2022Evaluation of Unsteady Aerodynamic Effects in Stall Region for a T-Tail Transport Model
AIAA SciTech Forum 2022
Low Carbon Fuels Strategy - Department for Transport Consultation Response
Performance Assessment of an Extremum Seeking Controller Using Continuation Methods
Aircraft Emissions, their Plume-Scale Effects, and the Spatio-Temporal Sensitivity of the Atmospheric Response: a Review
Aerospace
Analysing dynamic deep stall recovery using a nonlinear frequency approach
Nonlinear Dynamics