Chang-kwon Kang – Research Statement

My research interest focuses on modeling and analysis of multi-disciplinary complex physical systems where strongly coupled interaction plays an important role. For my undergraduate research on the aerodynamics of a high-altitude kite, I studied the interaction between the aerodynamics, structural dynamics, and control of the kite and the cable configuration in a team of eight students. My master thesis was on the topological structures of an incompressible flow around a cylinder mounted on a flat plate using theorems from the nonlinear dynamical systems and differential equations. In Michigan, I extended my interests into developing high fidelity computational methodologies of coupling computational fluid dynamics solvers and structural dynamics solvers, as well as, investigating complex systems and capturing physical mechanisms that can be extrapolated into engineering applications. My research during the PhD program has resulted in both independent, original publications (see below) and multi-disciplinary collaborative effort (Shyy et al., Prog Aerosp Sci, 2010; Shyy, Aono, Kang, Liu, Introduction to Flapping Aerodynamics, Cambridge University Press, accepted for publication) on the aerodynamic performance of rigid and flexible flapping wings for bio-inspired MAV development.