General Introduction

General Introduction

A few years ago the Helmholtz Association (HGF) consisting of 15 research Institutions including the German Aerospace Center (DLR) started a network research program called ‘Virtual Institutes’. The basic idea of this program was to establish research groups formed by Helmholtz research centers and universities to study and develop methods or technologies for future applications and educate young scientists. It should also enable and encourage the partners of this Virtual Institute after 3 years funding to continue their cooperation in other programs. Following this HGF request and chance the DLR Windtunnel Department of the Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology took the initiative and established a network with the following partners:

• DLR Windtunnel Department of the Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology in Cologne (Dr. Ali Gülhan)

• DLR Space Launcher Systems Analysis Department of the Institute of Space Propulsion (Dr. Martin Sippel)

• DLR Space Structural Components Department of the Institute of Structures and Design (Dr. Hermann Hald)

• Institute of Aerodynamics, RWTH Aachen (Prof. Wolfgang Schröder)

• Shock Wave Laboratory, RWTH Aachen (Prof. Herbert Olivier)

• Transition Group of the Institute of Aerodynamics and Gasdynamics of the University of Stuttgart (Dr. Markus Kloker)

• Turbulence Simulation Group of the Institute of Aerodynamics of the TU Munich (Prof. Rainer Friedrich)