Aerospace engineering professor named ASME fellow
Published: Apr 26, 2021 3:22 PM
By Virginia Speirs
Roy Hartfield, the Walt and Virginia Woltosz Professor of aerospace engineering, was recently named a fellow by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Hartfield was recognized by ASME for his excellent performance and contribution to the mechanical engineering field, especially in the categories of education, research and development, product development and design. While on the Auburn faculty, Hartfield has developed analysis and design tools for aircraft aerodynamics, propulsion, flight mechanics and optimization in support of the development of aerospace systems and products.
“The ASME reports that the rank of fellow is awarded to those with exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession and to ASME,” Hartfield said. “There are 3,427 fellows out of 74,788 members. I am most gratified to have been chosen to be a part of this select group.”
Hartfield began his career at Auburn in 1991 and has made significant impacts in the areas of aerodynamic measurement technology, missile system analysis, aerospace systems optimization, numerical aerodynamics and propulsion during his tenure. Hartfield, along with his colleagues, has presented short courses for the intelligence community, NASA, the University of Kansas short course program, major corporations and the Department of Defense. His former student, Dr. Vivek Ahuja, and Hartfield developed a widely adopted aircraft aerodynamic analysis tool known as FlightStream, which has been supported and adopted by elements of the US military, NASA and public and private engineering centers in 15 countries around the world.
Hartfield has also made significant contributions in the areas of aerodynamic analysis of grid fins, solid propellant rocket motors, liquid propellant rocket engines, engine combustion engine technology, statistical methods for missile system reverse engineering and laser-based methods for measurement of flow parameters. Hartfield holds patents on the continuous flow rotary vane engine and propeller technology and has authored approximately 150 papers and articles about his work. He was the 2018 recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Herman Oberth Award for the excellence of his work in the area of rocket propulsion.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as a faculty member in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering for these past 30 years,” Hartfield said. “It is my fervent wish that this honor be shared by Auburn University and that this recognition can, at least in some small way, further elevate the standing of our department, college and university.”
Media Contact: , cmontgomery@auburn.edu, 334.844.3668
