Dr Budi Chandra

Qualifications:

Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics

Position:

Associate Director (Mobility Technologies)

Department:

FET - Engineering, Design and MathematicsSchool of Engineering

Telephone:

+441173287841

Email:

Budi.Chandra@uwe.ac.uk

Social media:

About me

I am passionate about bringing people together and creating an environment in which individuals and teams can achieve their full potential. Through empathy, dedication, and a shared sense of purpose, I aim to support colleagues, inspire innovation, and deliver meaningful outcomes.

I joined the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) in 2015 as a Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering and have since progressed to Senior Lecturer, Programme Leader, and Associate Director for Mobility Technologies. In my current role, I oversee the Aerospace Engineering and Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies programmes, which together comprise more than 1,000 students, making Aerospace the largest programme area within the School of Engineering.

I welcome opportunities to collaborate with industry, academic institutions, and other partners to develop innovative solutions, address engineering challenges, and contribute to the future of aerospace and related technologies. Please get in touch if you would like to explore potential collaborations.

Area of expertise

My expertise lies in aerospace propulsion, gas turbine technology, and experimental and computational fluid dynamics, with a particular focus on bearing chamber flows, oil scavenge systems, and thermal-fluid processes in aero-engine lubrication systems.

One of my earliest industry collaborations was with Rolls-Royce Indianapolis, where I contributed to the redesign of the AE3007 engine sump geometry through experimental validation. This work contributed to the development of the patented “Indy Sump” design.

During my subsequent research at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre at the University of Nottingham, I worked on improving bearing chamber scavenge flow across several Rolls-Royce engine programmes, including the AE3007, BR725, TP400 and EJ200. My research involved investigating oil-air flow behaviour, droplet dynamics, oil scoop performance, gear windage and shrouding, and bearing chamber design optimisation, supported by experimental techniques such as particle image velocimetry (PIV).

My current project portfolio has broadened to encompass a wider range of aerospace and emerging engineering technologies, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), microjet engines, wind turbines, bespoke unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and orbital mechanics. These activities reflect my wider interests in aerospace propulsion, sustainable energy, aircraft and UAV design, and space systems, bringing together fundamental engineering research, experimental investigation, modelling, and practical application.

Publications

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