Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology
Volume 16, Issue 2 (2026)
Table of contents
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Effect of Blunt Truncation in an Aerospike Nozzle
Abstract: Aerospike nozzles are gaining attention as a more advanced alternative to conventional bell nozzles, mainly because they can perform efficiently across a wide range of altitude conditions. Unlike traditional converging–diverging nozzles, aerospike designs naturally adjust to changes in ambient pressure, allowing the exhaust flow to expand more effectively. This results in better thrust performance under varying operating conditions, making them a strong candidate for future aerospace propulsion systems. In this …
Published in Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology · Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2026 Read article
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Industrial Prognostics via Ensemble Machine Learning: An Uncertainty Aware Framework for RUL Estimation on NASA FD004 Telemetry
Abstract: Estimating the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of industrial machinery in real-time is now vital for both operational safety and smart resource management. In the aviation industry, turbofan engines deal with constantly shifting flight conditions, making traditional, scheduled maintenance both expensive and prone to error. This paper addresses the flaws in common “point-prediction” AI models, which offer a single failure date without any margin for error, by introducing a new, uncertainty-aware …
Published in Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology · Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2026 Read article
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Metamaterial-Based Thermal Shielding Structures for Reusable Hypersonic Space Transportation Systems
Abstract: The rapid development of reusable hypersonic space transportation systems has intensified the need for advanced thermal protection technologies capable of withstanding extreme aerodynamic heating conditions encountered during atmospheric re-entry and sustained hypersonic flight. Conventional thermal shielding materials often suffer from high structural weight, limited adaptability, thermal fatigue, and degradation under repeated thermal cycling. This study proposes a novel Metamaterial-Based Thermal Shielding Structure for Reusable Hypersonic Space Transportation Systems, integrating engineered …
Published in Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology · Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2026 Read article
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Transfer Learning Based High-Precision Multi-Class Object Detection for Real-Time UAV Autonomous Landing via YOLOv8l in Unstructured Scenarios
Abstract: A significant challenge for autonomous drone landings in unstructured environments is that of reliably detecting and identifying objects in real-time to ensure safety and accuracy of the landing area. This paper presents a well-founded method for solving this problem using the YOLOv8l object detection framework to detect landing zones, obstacles and people in the relevant vicinity of the landing area. The dataset used for the training of the model contained …
Published in Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology · Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2026 Read article
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Effect of Leading-Edge Roughness on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Wind Turbine blade
Abstract: Leading-Edge Roughness (LER) strongly dictates boundary layer transition and performance degradation on an airfoil operating at transitional Reynolds numbers, an aerodynamic regime where shear-layer stability mechanisms remain highly complex. The wind tunnel experiments were conducted to investigate the aerodynamic impacts of surface roughness applied over 25% of the chord of a NACA 0018 airfoil using two discrete roughness gradations. Surface roughness induces an early boundary layer trip, causing elevated section …
Published in Journal of Aerospace Engineering & Technology · Vol. 16, Issue 2, 2026 Read article