1970 - Work in fluid dynamics, specifically in the areas of aircraft turbulence and spiraling airflows.

* Widnall is internationally known for her work in fluid dynamics, specifically in the areas of aircraft turbulence and spiraling airflows. * She designed MIT's advanced wind tunnel facility. * One of her most notable works is on the elliptical instability mechanism with Raymond Pierrehumbert. * She published research that analyzed vortices trailing from the wing tips of aircraft that was used to gauge the hazards of wake turbulence, known as the Widnall instability. * While she was Secretary of the Air Force, she began the program to develop the expendable launch vehicle used for Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets.

Wingsail with adaptable flexible flap; Flexible tailored elastic airfoil section; Fiber velocity imparter device for dry-forming systems

Category:
Fluid Mechanics

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
9511835; 5181678; 4264290

Co-Inventor:
Peter Joseph Williams; Hayden K. Cornwell; William s. Widnall; William E. Gorgen; Jeffrey T. Evernham; Cedric A. Dunkerly II