Vincent Wheatley

Professor Vincent Wheatley is a Professor at the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, University of Queensland, and Co-Director of the Centre for Hypersonics. His research focuses on supersonic plasma flows, hypersonics, and computational fluid dynamics, with applications in inertial confinement fusion and scramjet engines for space propulsion.

• Education:
  • PhD in Aeronautics (2005), California Institute of Technology
  • MEngSc (Mechanical), University of Queensland
  • BE (Mechanical and Space), University of Queensland

His recent work (2025–2021) explores scramjet combustion dynamics (e.g., hydrogen/ethylene fuel injection), plasma instabilities in multi-fluid models, and hypersonic noise and shock wave interactions. These studies employ direct numerical simulation (DNS), large eddy simulation (LES), and reacting flow modeling.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Australia's Research Field Leader in Aerospace and Aviation Engineering (2018)
  • 2017 Australian Award for University Teaching – Award for Teaching Excellence

Professor Wheatley supervises projects on plasma fuel engines and hypersonic propulsion, supported by grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group. His team collaborates on multi-fluid plasma simulation and scramjet optimization.