Ray LeBeau

Ray LeBeau is an Associate Professor and Associate Department Chair in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Saint Louis University's School of Science and Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Planetary Science from MIT, an M.S. in Engineering Physics from the University of Virginia, and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia. His research focuses on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), flow control, aerodynamic design optimization, and planetary atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune, with applications in UAV design, inflatable wings, and plasma actuators.

Research Facilities:

• Fluid Systems Laboratory: Includes subsonic and supersonic wind tunnels, DPIV systems, and experimental setups for flow visualization and aerodynamic testing.
• Water Tunnel: Equipped with high-speed data acquisition and DPIV technology for fluid dynamics studies.

His work bridges aerospace engineering and planetary science, with notable contributions to ice giant atmospheric modeling and inflatable wing aerodynamics. Over 60 peer-reviewed publications and 15+ advised graduate students highlight his academic impact. He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and maintains affiliations with multiple professional organizations.

Grants & External Funding: LeBeau’s research has attracted external funding for projects involving UAV design and planetary atmosphere simulations. His labs support both undergraduate instruction and advanced graduate research.

Future Directions: Current projects include optimizing inflatable wing aerodynamics, studying Uranian vortex dynamics, and advancing CFD code performance for high-speed computing architectures.