• von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

    Training in Research through Research

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Lecture Series

Date: 06-10 October 2025

Location: online / on-site: Waterloosesteenweg, 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium - near Brussels

 

 

About the lecture series

Introduction to Measurement Techniques 2025

This lecture series gives a complete overview of measurement techniques for fluid mechanics. The lectures are designed to balance theoretical and applied perspectives and address both students and professionals: every technique is analyzed from the physical principles underpinning the measurement process, to the measurement chain and implementation, and the related data processing and uncertainty quantification.

The lecture series consists of frontal classes and hands-on activities in the VKI laboratories. Classes are organized in thematic areas, with the theoretical fundamentals presented along with the constraints set by practical applications, drawing from the long-standing experience of the VKI. A choice of relevant techniques will be demonstrated in dedicated laboratory sessions. This will allow the participants to acquire hands-on experience and to discuss their particular application.

At the end of the course, the attendees will have a robust background to support the design, implementation, operation, and uncertainty evaluation of the most appropriate technique for a given application. The balance between theory and hands-on sessions will show the attendees a wide range of problems and solutions at the forefront of experimental fluid mechanics research.

The lecture series directors are Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto and Prof. Delphine Laboureur, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

Programme

Monday 6 October 2025

08:30 - 08:45 Registration

08:45 - 09:00 Welcome Word

09:00 - 10:30 Principles of Measurement Systems
Prof. Miguel Mendez, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:30 Measurement Chain and Uncertainty
Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 15:00 Temperature Measurements
Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

15:00 - 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:00 Temperature Measurements
Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

17:00 - 18:0O Reception

Tuesday 7 October 2025


09:00 - 10:30 Pressure Measurements
Prof. Christophe Schram, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:30 Pressure Measurements
Prof. Christophe Schram, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 15:00 Heat Transfer Measurements
Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

15:00 - 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:00 Hot Wire Measurements
Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

Wednesday 8 October 2025


09:00 - 10:30 Image Processing for Optical Metrology
Prof. Miguel Mendez, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:30 Laser Doppler Velocimetry, Phase-Doppler Anemometry and Doppler Lidar
Prof. Jeroen van Beeck, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 15:00 Particle Image Velocimetry
Prof. Miguel Mendez and Prof. Delphine Laboureur, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

15:00 - 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:00 Particle Image Velocimetry
Prof. Miguel Mendez and Prof. Delphine Laboureur, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium


Thursday 9 October 2025


09:00 - 10:30 Flow Visualization and Optical Density Measurement
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break

11:00 - 12:30 Mass Flow Measurements
Prof. Delphine Laboureur, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 15:00 Aerodynamic Force Measurements
Prof. Guillaume Grossir, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

15:00 - 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:00 Signal Processing
Prof. Christophe Schram, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

Friday 10 October 2025: Demonstrations in Laboratories (only for on-site participants)


08:45 - 09:35 Demo 1: PIV
Prof. Delphine Laboureur, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

09:35 - 10:25 Demo 2: Flow visualisations
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

10:25 - 10:50 Coffee Break

10:50 - 11:40 Demo 3: Hot wires
Prof. Christophe Schram, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

11:40 - 12:30 Demo 4: Smoke visualization, Shadowgraph, Schlieren, and Background-Oriented Schlieren
Prof. Guillaume Grossir, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 14:20 Demo 5: Temperature measurements
Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

14:20 - 15:10 Demo 6: Steady and unsteady pressure measurements
Prof. Fabrizio Fontaneto, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

15:10 - 15:30 Lunch

15:30 - 16:20 Demo 7: Infrared Thermography
Dr. Helber Bernd, von Karman institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium

 

Fee and Registration

  • Deadline for on-site registration: 01 October 2025
  • Deadline for online registration: 22 September 2025
  • Discount of 10% in case of online participation*
  • Discount of 30% for citizens from NATO countries*

* applicable on the price listed below

Early Bird Registration until 6 August 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €315
  • PhD students: €864
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1368
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1728

Late Registration after 6 August 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €350
  • PhD students: €960
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1520
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1920

 

 

Date: 19 - 21 November 2025

Location: online / on-site: Waterloosesteenweg, 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium - near Brussels

 

 

About the course

Physics of Atmopsheres VKI Course

This hybrid course (on-site/online) serves as an introduction to basic principles of the physics of atmospheres, with an emphasis on atmospheric flows. Topics include the general structure of the atmosphere, atmospheric dynamics, boundary layer meteorology, field and lab scale testing, and numerical modeling. This course is continuously updated following the research activities at the VKI.

The course will be delivered by a team of researchers from the VKI, including Senior Test Engineer Gertjan Glabeke, Research Engineer dr. Nicolas Coudou, Research Engineer dr. Simone Gremmo, and Assistant Professor dr. Wim Munters (who also serves as coordinator).

Learning outcomes of the course are for the students to understand:

  • Energy balances in the atmosphere
  • Driving forces and general circulation structure in atmospheric dynamics
  • Concepts of atmospheric stability and its role in the atmospheric boundary layer
  • Working principles of instruments used for atmospheric measurements, including their strengths, weaknesses, uncertainties and cost
  • Scaling rules applied to model the atmospheric boundary layer experimentally in a wind tunnel
  • Strategies for modeling atmospheric flows on a range of scales and fidelity
  • How to set up and run a weather model

Programme

Wednesday 19 November 2025

08:30 – 09:00    Registration
09:00 – 10:15    Welcome address and introduction (Prof. Wim Munters)
10:15 – 10:45    Coffee break
10:45 – 12:00    Atmospheric Dynamics 1 (Prof. Wim Munters)
12:00 – 13:00    Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:15    Atmospheric Dynamics 2 (Prof. Wim Munters)
14:15 – 15:30    Boundary Layer Meteorology 1 (Prof. Wim Munters)
15:30 – 16:00    Coffee Break
16:00 – 17:00    Boundary Layer Meteorology 2 (Prof. Wim Munters)

Thursday 20 November 2025

09:00 – 10:15    Measurements & Instrumentation 1 (Ing. Gertjan Glabeke)
10:15 – 10:45    Coffee break
10:45 – 12:00    Measurements & Instrumentation 2 (Ing. Gertjan Glabeke)
12:00 – 13:00    Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:15    Experimental Modeling 1 (Dr. Nicolas Coudou)
14:15 – 15:30    Experimental Modeling 2 (Dr. Nicolas Coudou)
15:30 – 16:00    Coffee Break
16:00 – 17:00    Visit of the VKI Labs / lidar demo (Ing. Gertjan Glabeke)

Friday 21 November 2025

09:00 – 10:15    Numerical Modeling (Prof. Wim Munters)
10:15 – 10:45    Coffee break
10:45 – 12:00    Hands-on session with Weather Research & Forecasting model 1 (Ing. Simone Gremmo & Prof. Wim Munters)
12:00 – 13:00    Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:15    Hands-on session with Weather Research & Forecasting model 2 (Ing. Simone Gremmo & Prof. Wim Munters) 

Fee and Registration

  • Deadline for on-site registration: 5 November 2025
  • Deadline for online registration: 12 November 2025
  • Discount of 10% in case of online participation*
  • Discount of 30% for citizens from NATO countries*

* applicable on the price listed below

Early Bird Registration until 19 September 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €180
  • PhD students: €540
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1080
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1296

Late Registration after 19 September 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €200
  • PhD students: €600
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1200
  • Staff from commercial organizations:  €1440

 

 

Date: 19 - 21 January 2026

Location: online / on-site: Waterloosesteenweg, 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium - near Brussels

 

 

About the lecture series

Introduction to ground Testing 19-21 January 2026

Ground testing facilities have been used since long in aeronautics and aerospace, as they have been developed for environmental and industrial applications. Nowadays they are still major sources of key data for investigations in all fields of fluid dynamics.

This hybrid lecture series (online / on-site) is organized for student and engineers to provide a comprehensive understanding of the design, operation and application of ground testing facilities from all speed regimes.

Highlights:

  • General Understanding: Learn about the design, operation, and application of ground testing facilities.
  • Experimental Methodology: Gain insights into experimental techniques, data interpretation, and extrapolation to real-world scenarios.
  • Exclusive On-Site Presentation: On-site participants will enjoy a tour of the VKI facilities during a lab visit.
  • Interactive Q&A Session: Online participants can engage in a dedicated question/answer session, with the schedule to be announced later.

This lecture series is a unique opportunity to learn from the extensive experience and long-standing tradition of experimental testing at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI).

The Director of this lecture series is Professor Olivier Chazot of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI).

Programme

Monday 19 January 2026


08:30 - 09:00 Registration

09:00 - 09:15 Welcome address

09:15 - 10:30 The wind tunnel methodology
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break

11:00 - 12:30 Subsonic wind tunnels 1
Prof. Benoit Bottin, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics and ISIB

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch

14:00 - 15:15  Subsonic wind tunnels 2
Prof. Benoit Bottin, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics and ISIB

15:15 - 15:45 Coffee break

15:45 - 17:00 Visit of the L1 & S1 facilities (only on-site participants)

17:00 Reception

Tuesday 20 January 2026


09:00 - 10:15 Wind tunnel development for the Environemental and Applied Fluid Dynamics Department
Prof. Jereon van Beeck, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

10:15 - 10:45 Coffee break

10:45 - 12:00 Transonic & supersonic wind tunnels
Prof. Benoit Bottin, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics and ISIB

12:00 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 14:45 Test bench for turbomachinery
Prof. Tony Arts, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

14:45 - 15:15 Coffee break

15:15 - 16:30 Extrapolation to engine operation
Prof. Tony Arts, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

16:30 - 17:00 Visit of the turbomachinery facilities (only on-site participants)

17:00 End of day

Wednesday 21 January 2026


09:00 - 10:15 High-enthalpy/plasma wind tunnels
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

10:15 - 10:45 Coffee break

10:45 - 12:00 Supersonic nozzle design
Prof. Guillaume Grossir, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

12:00 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 14:45 GT strategy for planetary reentry
Prof. Olivier Chazot, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

14:45 - 15:15 Coffee break

15:15 - 16:30 Visit of the hypersonic & plasma facilities (only on-site participants)

17:00 End of the day

Fee and Registration

  • Deadline for on-site registration: 5 January 2026
  • Deadline for online registration: 12 January 2026

 

  • Discount of 10% in case of online participation*
  • Discount of 30% for citizens from NATO countries*

* applicable on the price listed below

Early Bird Registration until 19 November 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €180
  • PhD students: €540
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1080
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1296

Late Registration after 19 November 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €200
    PhD students: €600
    Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1200
    Staff from commercial organizations: €1440

 

 

Date: 02 - 06 February 2026

Location: online / on-site: Waterloosesteenweg, 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium - near Brussels

 

 

About the course

Hands on Machine Learning for Fluid Dynamics 2026

Now in its 6th edition, the Hands-on Machine Learning for Fluid Dynamics course has established itself as a leading training program in the field, with over 500 participants to date from academia, research institutes, and industry. This popular one-week intensive course offers a practical and accessible introduction to machine learning techniques, specifically designed for applications in fluid dynamics.

The course blends concise theoretical lectures with hands-on Python exercises, guiding participants to frame and solve fluid mechanics problems using modern data-driven tools. Topics include regression and uncertainty quantification, dimensionality reduction, reduced-order modeling, turbulence modeling, system identification, data assimilation and inverse problems for digital twinning, reinforcement learning and flow control. Each module is structured to promote active learning, combining expert instruction with interactive coding tutorials that emphasize intuition and real-world relevance.

The course is intended for graduate students, researchers, and professionals with a basic background in Python programming and fluid mechanics. A detailed program for the 6th edition is currently being finalized and will be announced soon.

 

Fee and Registration

  • Deadline for on-site registration: 19 January 2026
  • Deadline for online registration: 26 January 2026

 

  • Discount of 10% in case of online participation*
  • Discount of 30% for citizens from NATO countries*

* applicable on the price listed below

Early Bird Registration until 2 December 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €315
  • PhD students: €864
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1368
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1728

Late Registration after 2 December 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €350
  • PhD students: €960
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1520
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1920

 

 

Date: 09-13 February 2026

Location: online / on-site: Waterloosesteenweg, 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium - near Brussels

 

 

About the course

Radial Compressor Design and Optimization 09-13 February 2026

This course is the regular course on radial compressors thought at VKI to the turbomachinery students specializing in compressors in the context of the “Research Master in Fluid Dynamics”. It provides an overview of the present knowledge and flow models and intends to provide a good background for the people interested in the aerodynamic design of radial compressors.

This 5 day course is now made available to a limited number of people from outside VKI.

Lectures and exercises are given by Prof. Tom Verstraete from the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics.

Programme

Monday 9 February 2026

08:30 - 09:00: Registration

09:00-10:30 Introduction and overall performance

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:15 Flow equations operating conditions

10:45-12:15 Flow equations operating conditions

12:15-13:45 Break

13:45-15:15 IGV and compressor inlet

15:15-15:45 Break

15:45-17:15 Impeller flow

 

Tuesday 10 February 2026

09:00-10:30 Impeller performance prediction

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:15 Vaneless diffusers

12:15-13:45 Break

13:45-15:15 Vaned diffusers

15:15-15:45 Break

15:45-17:15 Volutes

 

Wednesday 11 February 2026

09:00-10:30 Volutes

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:15 Impeller response

12:15-13:45 Break

13:45-15:15 Introduction to optimization methods part I

15:15-15:45 Break

15:45-17:15 Introduction to optimization methods part II

 

Thursday 12 February 2026

09:00-10:30 Impeller response and rotating stall

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:15 Surge and stall

12:15-13:45 Break

13:45-15:15 Gradient free optimization of radial compressors

15:15-15:45 Break

15:45-17:15 Gradient based optimization of radial compressors

Friday 13 February 2026

09:00-10:30 Surge and stall

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-12:15 Stability and range

12:15-13:45 Break

13:45-15:15 Stability and range

15:15 End of Lecture Series

 

Fee and Registration

  • Deadline for on-site registration: 26 January 2026
  • Deadline for online registration: 02 February 2026

 

  • Discount of 10% in case of online participation*
  • Discount of 30% for citizens from NATO countries*

* applicable on the price listed below

Early Bird Registration until 9 December 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €315
  • PhD students: €864
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1368
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1728

Late Registration after 9 December 2025

  • Undergraduate students: €350
  • PhD students: €960
  • Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1520
  • Staff from commercial organizations: €1920