James Nichols
- Program Year: 1
- Academic Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
- Field of Study: Fluids, Structures and Materials
- Academic Advisor: Iain Boyd
- Residencies:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2024) - Degree(s):
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, 2021; B.S. Mechanical Engineering, and B.S. Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky, 2019
Summary of Research
A key technical challenge in the design of hypersonic vehicles is ensuring they will survive the extreme heating and oxidative environment created in the surrounding flow. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of materialbehavior within such environments is imperative. Several numerical models have been developed to predict these conditions and inform designs. However, because of gaps in understanding of these flows it is important to closely couple
these models with experimental data. Due to the uniqueness of hypersonic environments test and flight campaigns are resource-intensive and logistically complex. Thus, there is immense value in establishing alternative, lower-cost testing methods. One promising avenue involves the utilization of lasers in conjunction with low-enthalpy flow conditions. Laser technology offers the capacity to replicate the extreme temperatures, heating rates, and thermal gradients imposed on materials in such conditions. The goal of my research is to quantify how closely this methodology represents actual hypersonic flight with a focus on assessing the fidelity of this laser-based heating scheme.
Publications
Computational Modeling of Hypersonic Flow and Material Response in a Free-jet Test Facility, Stewardship Science Academic Programs (SSAP), Arlington, VA, February 2024, Poster. Oral Presentation.Computational Modeling of Hypersonic Flow and Material Response in a Free-jet Test Facility, Stewardship Science Academic Programs (SSAP), Santa Fe, NM, February 2023, Poster.
J. D. Schmidt, J. T. Nichols, M. P. Ruffner, W. T. Smith, and A. Martin, Overview of the orbital re-entry of the KRUPS capsule, International Conference on Flight vehicles, Aerothermodynamics and Re-entry Missions and Engineering (FAR 2022), Heilbronn, Germany, July 2022.
J. D. Schmidt , J. T. Nichols, M. Ruffner, R. Nolin, W. T. Smith, and A. Martin, Kentucky Re- Entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS): Design and Testing for Hypersonic Re-Entry Flight, AIAA SciTech Forum, AIAA Paper 2022-1576, Jan 2022.
J. D. Schmidt, J. T. Nichols, C. Dietz, L. P. Askins, K. F. Ford, A. Perry, W. T. Smith, and A. Martin,Kentucky Re-Entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS): Overview of flight test via high-altitude balloon, AIAA Aviation Forum, AIAA Paper 2022-3729, Jan 2022.
E. Adler, E. Howell, T. McClure, J. T. Nichols, T. Aiken, N. Bartel, C. Byrd, R. Weibrecht, M. Zheng, “Subscale Demonstration and Validation of the Hercules Ascent, Descent, and Entry Vehicle AIAA SciTech 2020 Forum, January 2020.
“The Kentucky Re-Entry Universal Payload System Orbital Technology Demonstration, ISS Research and Development Conference, Atlanta, GA, July 2019, Poster.
J. D. Sparks, G. Myers, E. Whitmer, J. T. Nichols, C. Dietz, N. Khouri, S. W. Smith, and A. Martin, “Overview of the second test-flight of the Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System (KRUPS), 12th AIAA/ASME Joint Thermophysics and Heat Transfer Conference, AIAA Paper 2018- 3589, Atlanta, GA, June 2018.
J. D. Sparks, E. Whitmer, G. Myers, C. Montague, C. Dietz, N. Khouri, J. T. Nichols, S. W. Smith, and A. Martin, “Overview of the first test-flight of the Kentucky re-entry universal payload system (KRUPS), 56th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA Paper 2018-1720, Kissimmee, FL, January 2018.
Awards
Innovation Award - Technology Demonstration, ISSR&D Conference 2022Graduate Research Fellowship Program, National Science Foundation, 2020
Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, University of Kentucky 2018
Lewis Honors College, University of Kentucky 2015 - 2019
Presidential Scholar, University of Kentucky 2015 - 2019