Dr. Wanbo Liu

Chief Engineer

Dr. Liu is the chief engineer of DARcorporation and an expert in aerospace structural analysis and aircraft design in a broader sense. He led the engineering effort at DARcorporation on multiple consulting projects, such as the design and analysis of multiple external radar installations mounted on the NASA Lockheed P-3, NASA DC-8, NOAA Lockheed P-3 and the German Alfred Wegener Institute Basler BT-67 research airplanes, which all involved dissimilar materials under severe flight and environmental loads. Dr. Liu’s contribution to NASA’s Operation IceBridge (OIB) Airborne Radar Surveys won him the NASA Group Achievement Award in 2011. He also led multiple private company projects such as the loads and detailed structural analysis of a novel layout all-carbon general aviation airplane, the structural analysis of a business jet tail modification and etc. He is proficient in the use of Patran, Nastran, Femap, ZAERO, AFGROW, LS-DYNA, MATLAB and MathCAD. Dr. Liu is also the chief structural analyst for the Meridian UAV of the University of Kansas. Dr. Liu has been involved with the structural design and aeroelastic analysis of several novel wind turbines developed by DARcorporation. Dr. Liu is a senior member of AIAA.

Professional Preparation

  • The University of Kansas, Aerospace Engineering: Ph.D., 2008
  • Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering: M.S., 2001
  • Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Aerospace Engineering: B.S., 1998

Selected Experience

  • NASA Operation IceBridge Mission, Integration of Multichannel Coherent Radar Depth Sounder (MCoRDS) on the NASA DC-8

  • NASA Operation IceBridge Mission, Integration of Multichannel Coherent Radar Depth Sounder (MCoRDS), Accumulation, Ku-band and SNOW on the NASA P-3B

  • NASA ESTO DESDynI and ACE Missions, Integration of Ecological Structure Activity Relationships (ECoSAR) on the NOAA P-3B

  • German Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Integration of Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) antenna on the Basler BT-67

  • Structural analysis of a Boeing 737-700 Dorsal Satellite Communications Radome Assembly

  • Full airframe analysis of a 4-seater carbon fiber GA airplane

  • Full airframe analysis of the Meridian Antarctic UAV for ice sheet sensing missions at Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) of University of Kansas, supported by NSF

  • Structural analysis of a Cessna Citation XLS+ jet vertical tail modification including aeroelasticity effects for Cessna Aircraft Company

  • Multiple structural analysis projects of heavy machinery at Caterpillar

  • Vibration analysis of aircraft interior noise reduction project supported by Kansas Aircraft Design & Manufacturing Research Center (ADMRC, supported by Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna, Raytheon and University of Kansas)

  • Structural analysis of a vertical wind tunnel blade and hub assembly

  • Thermal analysis for Raisbeck jet external cargo compartment

  • Structural analysis of a novel horizontal axis wind turbine

  • Reviewer for Journal of Aircraft, AIAA Journal and SAE International

  • AIAA Aircraft Design Technical Committee Member

Publications

  • B. Basgall, B. Moorthamers, D. Darrah, A. D’Silva, W. Liu, W.A. Anemaat, “Conceptual Design of RUFUS (Research Uncrewed Flying Utility System), an Uncrewed Ducted Fan VTOL Aircraft,” AIAA Paper 2024-4428, presented at 2024 AIAA Scitech Forum, Las Vegas, NV, July 29 – August 2, 2024.
  • A. D’Silva, D. Darrah, J. Eppler, W. Liu, W.A. Anemaat, “UAV Propeller Acoustic Design, Analysis and Testing,” AIAA Paper 2024-4652, presented at 2024 AIAA Scitech Forum, Las Vegas, NV, July 29 – August 2, 2024.
  • W.A. Anemaat, K.A. Brewer, D.T. Darrah, J.F. Ink, W. Liu and B. Moorthamers, “Design, Build and Testing of the MAVRIK with Distributed Electric Propulsion,” AIAA Paper 6.2022-3201, presented at 2022 AIAA Aviation Forum, Chicago, IL, June 27-July 1, 2022.
  • W.A. Anemaat, D. Darrah, B. Moorthamers and W. Liu, “Modeling and Optimization of Propulsion Systems for eVTOL Aircraft,” VFS Paper 1181, presented at VFS Forum 78, May 10-12, 2022.
  • D. Darrah, W. Liu, J. Eppler and W.A. Anemaat, “Integrated Electrical UAV Propulsion Design and Testing for High Efficiency,” SAE Paper 20ATC-0095, presented at 2020 SAE AeroTech, Pasadena, CA, March 10, 2020.
  • B. Basgall, W. Liu, T. Cassady and W.A. Anemaat, “Aircraft Design Weight Methods Comparison and Improvement,” AIAA Paper 2020-1259, presented at 2020 AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, January 6-10, 2020.
  • D. Darrah, J. Eppler, W. Liu and W.A. Anemaat, “Electric Ducted Fan Design and Testing for High Performance UAV Integration,” AIAA Paper 2020-0017, presented at 2020 AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, FL, January 6-10, 2020.
  • W.A. Anemaat, D. de Vries and W. Liu, “Propeller Design Framework using Open Source Tools,” APISAT 2019: Asia Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, 2019, pp. 1587-1600, presented at 2019 Asian Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, Australia, December 4-6, 2019.
  • W.A. Anemaat, D. de Vries, B. Basgall, W. Liu, V. Ahuja and R. Hartfield, “Comparison of Aerodynamic Design Tools for Distributed Propulsion Aircraft,” APISAT 2019: Asia Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, 2019, pp. 60-72, presented at 2019 Asian Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, Australia, December 4-6, 2019.
  • M. Yang, D.M. van Dommelen, W. Liu, J. Eppler, D. Darrah and W.A. Anemaat, “UAV Rotor Acoustic Analysis and Optimization,” AIAA Paper 2019-2547, presented at 25th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference (Aeroacoustics 2019), Delft, The Netherlands, May 20-24, 2019.
  • M. Yang, D. Darrah, J. Eppler, W. Liu and W.A. Anemaat, “Small UAV Acoustic Design, Analysis and Testing,” AIAA Paper 2019-1073, presented at 2019 AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, San Diego, CA, January 9, 2019.
  • W.A. Anemaat, B. Basgall, W. Liu and D.M. van Dommelen, “High Efficiency 3-surface Hybrid Single Aisle Commercial Transport Aircraft Design,” AIAA Paper 2019-0556, presented at 2019 AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, San Diego, CA, January 8, 2019.
  • W.A. Anemaat, D. van Dommelen, S. Johnson, P.B. Sargent and W. Liu, “Comparison of Aerodynamic Analysis Tools for Rotorcraft in Hover,” AIAA Paper 2018-2069, presented at the 2018 AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, Kissimmee, FL, January 8-12, 2018.
  • D. van Dommelen, S. Johnson, W. Liu, W.A. Anemaat and M. Gritsch, “Aircraft Design Method for Weight, Volume and Cost of Electric Motors,” 17th Australian International Aerospace Congress: AIAC17, 2017, pp. 605-610, presented at the 17th Australian International Aerospace Congress (AIAC17), Melbourne, Australia, 26-28 February 2017.
  • M. Gritsch, W.A. Anemaat, S. Johnson and W. Liu, “Rapid Weight Sizing Methodology for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (Quadcopter),” 17th Australian International Aerospace Congress: AIAC17, 2017, pp. 351-356, presented at the 17th Australian International Aerospace Congress (AIAC17), Melbourne, Australia, February 26-28, 2017.
  • W.A. Anemaat, M. Schuurman, W. Liu and A. Karwas, “Aerodynamic Design, Analysis and Testing of Propellers for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,” AIAA Paper 2017-0721, presented at the 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, Grapevine, TX, January 9-13, 2017.
  • W.A. Anemaat, A. Karwas, W. Liu and S. Johnson, “Dorsal Fin Design Method: A Low Cost Aerodynamic Solution to Prevent Loss-of-Control,” AIAA Paper 2017-0694, presented at the 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, Grapevine, TX, January 9-13, 2017.
  • W.A. Anemaat, W. Liu, M. Yang and R. Hale, “Design, Build and Fly: Basler BT-67 with External Antenna Fairings,” AIAA Paper 2016-4062, presented at the 16th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, AIAA AVIATION 2016, Washington, D.C., June 13 17, 2016.
  • W. Liu, M. Ewing and R. Hale, “Aeroelastic Analysis and Ground Vibration Testing of Ultra WideBand Ice Radar Installations on the Basler BT-67,” AIAA Paper 2016-4008, presented at the AIAA Modeling and Simulation Technologies Conference, AIAA AVIATION 2016, Washington, D.C., June 13-17, 2016.
  • W. Liu and W.A. Anemaat, “Airplane Component Weight Estimation Method Development,” 16th Australian International Aerospace Congress: AIAC16, 2015, pp. 7-12, presented at the 16th Australian International Aerospace Congress (AIAC16) Melbourne, Australia, February 23-24, 2015.
  • W. Liu and W.A. Anemaat, “A Refined Method for Wing Weight Estimation and a New Method for Wing Center of Gravity Estimation,” AIAA Paper 2013-4371, presented at the 2013 Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations (ATIO) Conference and International Powered Lift Conference (IPLC), Los Angeles, CA, August 12-14, 2013.
  • W.A. Anemaat, W. Liu, B. Kaushik, M. Yang, M. Brown and R. Hale, “Design, Build and Fly: NASA Lockheed P-3 Orion with External Antenna Fairings,” AIAA Paper 2013-0019, presented at the 51st AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Grapevine, TX, January 7-10, 2013.
  • W. Liu, B. Kaushik and W. Anemaat, “Weight Investigation of a Novel Split-Wing Airplane Layout,” AIAA Paper 2012-1995, presented at the 53rd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Honolulu, HI, April 23-26, 2012.
  • R. Hale, E. Arnold, M. Ewing and W. Liu, “Method for Design and Analysis of Externally Mounted Antenna Fairings in Support of Cryospheric Surveying,” AIAA Paper 2011-171, presented at the 52nd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Denver, CO, April 4-7, 2011.
  • W.R. Donavan, R.D. Hale and W. Liu, “The Design and Structural Analysis of the Meridian Unmanned Aircraft,” AIAA Paper 2008-2261, presented at the 49th AIAA/ASME/ ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Schaumberg, IL, April, 2008.
  • W. Liu and M.S. Ewing, “Predicting Damping Loss Factors for Beams and Plates with Constrained Layer Damping,” AIAA Paper 2008-2238, presented at the 49th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Schaumberg, IL, April, 2008.
  • W. Liu and M.S. Ewing, “Estimating Particle Damping of Honeycomb Sandwich Plates using a Fluid Analogy,” AIAA Paper 2008-2104, presented at the 49th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Schaumberg, IL, April, 2008.
  • D.M. Mueller, W.R. Donavan, E. Runge and W. Liu, “Structural Design, Analysis and Testing of Antennas for the Meridian UAS,” AIAA Paper 2008-1832, presented at the 49th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Schaumberg, IL, April, 2008.
  • W. Liu and M.S. Ewing, “Particle Damping of Composite Honeycomb Beams by the Power Input Method,” AIAA Paper 2007-2044, presented at the 48th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference, Honolulu, HI, April, 2007.
  • M. Ewing and W. Liu, “Predicting Damping in Engineering Structures,” presented at the 6th International Symposium on the Vibrations of Continuous Systems (ISVCS), Olympic Valley, CA, July, 2007.
  • W. Liu and M.S. Ewing, “Experimental and Analytical Estimation of Loss Factors by the Power Input Method,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 45, No. 2, February 2007, pp 477-484.
  • M.S. Ewing, W. Liu, A.G. Pavanasam and W. Sio, “Prediction and Measurement of Damping Loss Factors in Sandwich Composite Structures,” presented at the Aircraft Interior Noise Workshop, Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita, KS, April 6, 2006.