John Cipolla Email & Phone Number

Ocala Florida Area

Project manager and principal developer of new Computational Fluid Dynamics, flutter velocity and rocket propulsion analysis software at AeroRocket. Developed AeroCFD® and VisualCFD™ for the analysis of subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic projectile aerodynamics and FinSim for the flutter analysis of rocket fins in subsonic and supersonic flight. AeroCFD® is a three-dimensional axisymmetric and two-dimensional finite-volume CFD program that solves the inviscid Euler equations for subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flow. AeroCFD® generates flow fields by applying automatic numerical grid generation and mesh distribution around a library of standard aerodynamic shapes. Using AeroCFD®, complex CFD solutions are achieved in minutes rather than hours greatly increasing productivity. Also, designed and fabricated the AeroRocket subsonic wind tunnel and force measurement system. The AeroRocket subsonic wind tunnel is ideal for measuring subsonic drag, lift and moment coefficients of unusual aerodynamic shapes. In addition, after a lengthy development effort a new Mach 3 supersonic blow-down wind tunnel is operational and being used to design supersonic and hypersonic aircraft. John Cipolla's unique expertise in the fabrication of miniature supersonic wind tunnel models allows testing realistic shapes for accurate hypersonic drag measurements. Finally, John Cipolla is performing innovative research in the area of gravitational warp drive technology that may achieve faster than light space travel.

St Cloud, Minnesota, United States

ASME Code pressure vessel design using the linear and nonlinear structural analysis capability of COSMOS/M. Applied Section VIII of the ASME Code to the design of pressure vessels and used Finite Element Analysis to supplement the ASME Code. Finally, for NASA designed the vacuum chamber used to test the DAWN ion engine for deep space applications. NASA project was on time and on budget.

Eglin Afb, Florida

Performed structural and flutter analyses of USAF aircraft/store compatibility for flight test certification. Plan and perform engineering studies for the design and flight test of weapons being procured by Air Force Materiel Command. Incorporated several new armament and launcher combinations into the F-15 and F-16 aircraft flutter simulations. Required in-depth knowledge of MSC/NASTRAN and the CRAY-YMP computer to perform aeroelastic and flutter simulations of the F-111, F-15 and F-16 aircraft. During Desert Storm, certified the GBU-28 laser guided super bomb called the "Bunker Buster" for carriage aboard the F-111 and F-15 aircraft. This work laid the groundwork for the safe carriage and release of weapons systems from F-117, F-22 and F-35 stealth fighter aircraft. Did not have the opportunity to serve in the military, but did help build the military and its weapons systems.

Eglin Afb, Florida

Performed original Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code development for innovative finite difference and finite volume Euler and Navier-Stokes flow solvers. Program manager for the Hypersonic Interference Flow Field contract intended to produce methodology for simulating the captive carriage and free-flight release of weapons from stealth and hypersonic aircraft. These duties included contract monitoring and over-sight of contractor CFD research personnel. Successfully incorporated equilibrium chemistry into the EAGLE CFD code. CFD Solutions to Mach 20 were achieved. Developed a capability to numerically simulate holographic interferometric fringe patterns for CFD code performance assessment. Holographic fringe patterns from aeroballistic range flight test shadowgrams correspond to pressure and density contours generated by CFD analysis. The USAF used this new methodology to validate the EAGLE CFD code and other CFD codes by comparing the density patterns of the CFD analysis to the experimental density levels generated by free-flight test. A paper on this subject was authored based on the modeling of a supersonic cone-cylinder-flare body tested in free-flight at the Aeroballistic Research facility at Eglin AFB.STEALTH FIGHTER (1985): Using the Maciulaitis and Rossiter equations, predicted the first three aeroacoustic frequency modes of vibration for the safe release of the AIM-120 AMRAAM and other weapon systems from the F-111 open bomb bay. Then, compared predicted open bomb bay aeroacoustic modes of vibration to flight test determined aeroacoustic modes of vibration. These results compared well to CFD predictions for the first three aeroacoustic modes of vibration for F-111 aircraft open bomb bay. This work laid the groundwork for safely carrying and releasing the AIM-120 AMRAAM and other weapon systems from the open bomb bays of the F-117, F-22 and F-35 stealth fighter aircraft. This was groundbreaking work while employed by the United States Air Force.

Eglin Afb Florida

Performed structural and flutter analyses of missile and launcher combinations for aircraft flight certification. Verify that design limits for captive carriage and missile launch are not exceeded within the flight envelope. Utilize classical and FEA methods to determine stress and aerodynamic loading of missile components. Member of the AMRAAM executive review team (EIRT) tasked with the responsibility to verify flight readiness of the missile and launcher systems. Utilized MSC/NASTRAN for the aeroelastic and structural (FEA) analysis of several USAF weapon systems including laser guided bombs and air-to-air missiles. For SDI, developed a method to determine carbon-carbon nose cone ablation and the effect of time-dependent nose cone shape on altitude and velocity for electro-magnetically (EM) launched hypervelocity projectiles. Designed and managed construction of the first portable cryogenic cooling chamber used at Eglin AFB. The first of its kind, cooling chamber used liquid nitrogen to cold-soak the large GAU-8A tank killer gun system to minus 65 degrees Fahrenheit just prior to test firing in the hot Florida sun. The A-10 and F-16 aircraft when configured to destroy tanks carry the GAU-8A gun. Performed a complete heat transfer and fluid dynamic analysis to define the nozzle and piping requirements to maintain the proper flow rate of liquid nitrogen. Performed an environmental impact study and satisfied all safety requirements for handling liquid nitrogen and mitigating human exposure to exploded depleted uranium rounds during operational use on the remote test range. Worked side by side with USAF officers and enlisted personnel when the GAU-8A rounds were tested against armor plate contaminating the range with depleted uranium. USAF military personnel who worked on the project are greeted with, "Thank you for your service". But, John Cipolla, a USAF civilian aerospace engineer also exposed to depleted uranium is never thanked for his service.

Eglin Afb

Primary Aerospace design engineer for the 800 foot long Aeroballistic Research Facility, also known as the ARF, located at Eglin AFB. Florida. As primary mechanical designer of the ARF, responsible for design, fabrication and installation for dozens of major components. Designed complex free-flight instrumentation used to measure subsonic and supersonic projectile position, velocity, stability derivatives (CNa, CMa) and aerodynamic coefficients (Xcp, Cd, CL). Free-flight tests conducted in the ARF are used to validate innovative high speed projectile designs and related CFD results. The ARF engineering design effort continues to have a direct positive impact on many Army, USAF and NASA projects. Successfully utilized the ARF test facility to publish papers concerning the Interferometric prediction and validation of air density flow field distribution of a cone-cylinder-flare projectile in free-flight and the CFD analysis of missile configurations in supersonic flight. Many USAF personnel use the ARF to publish research papers sponsored by the AIAA and to support their Phd thesis research.

B.S. Mechanical Engineering And Applied Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics, 3.2 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Pi-Tau-Sigma, Mechanical Engineering Honor Society

M.S. Aerospace Engineering, Post Graduate Work

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Numerical Grid Generation and Hypersonic Flight Dynamics.

Post Graduate Work, Mechanical Engineering, 3.4 Gpa

Coursework includes Advanced Fluid Dynamics, Hydrodynamics, Underwater Acoustics I and Underwater Acoustics II.

Post Graduate Work, Theoretical Physics, 3.0 Gpa

Course work includes Quantum Mechanics, Special Relativity, General Relativity, Continuum Mechanics, Dynamics of Atmospheric Flight.