Introduction to Aeroelasticity 2026
VKI Course
Date: 16-20 February 2026
Location: online / on-site: Waterloosesteenweg, 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium - near Brussels
About the course
This course serves as an introduction to aeroelasticity providing the theoretical basis and hands-on experience for applications to aircraft and rotor design and R&D projects. Starting with the description of the basic aeroelastic phenomena of interest, the course will familiarize the participants with concepts such as aeroelastic deformation, static divergence, control reversal, flutter and gust loads. Fast aeroelastic modelling techniques based on potential flow theory will be presented and some of them will be practiced. Current industrial practice in aircraft design will be presented, and future avenues will be discussed. Special emphasis is put on interaction with the participants and on practical exercises.
The lecturer is Professor Greg Dimitriadis of University of Liège, adjunct professor at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics.
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis
University of Liège, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
Lecturer
Prof. Frank Eulitz
von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
Course Director
Programme
Monday 16 February 2026: Introduction to aeroelasticity
08:45 - 09:00 Registration
09:00 - 09:15 Welcome & Introduction
Prof. Frank Eulitz, VKI, Belgium
09:15 - 10:30 Introduction to Aeroelasticity
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30 Static aeroelasticity: static divergence, control reversal
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:15 Dynamic aeroelasticity
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
15:15 - 14:45 Coffee break
15:45 - 17:00 Flutter: Fundamentals & quasi-steady aerodynamics
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
17:00 Welcome reception
Tuesday 17 February 2026: Unsteady aerodynamics and gust loads
09:00 - 10:30 Practice session: Calculation of flutter airspeed and frequency
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30 Practice session cont’d: Calculation of flutter airspeed and frequency
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:15 Unsteady aerodynamics
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
15:15 - 15:45 Coffee break
15:45 - 17:00 Unsteady aerodynamics and gust load response
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
Wednesday 18 February 2026: Aircraft aeroelasticity in practice
09:00 - 10:30 Aircraft unsteady aerodynamic modelling: the Doublet Lattice Method
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30 Aircraft unsteady aerodynamic modelling: the Source and Doublet Panel Method
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:15 Aircraft structural dynamic modelling and flutter prediction
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
15:15 - 17:00 VKI Lab tour and drinks reception
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
Thursday 19 February 2026: Aircraft aeroelasticity in practice
09:00 - 10:30 Practice session: Aeroelastic modelling of a finite wing in compressible flow
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30 Practice session cont’d: Aeroelastic modelling of a finite wing in compressible flow
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:15 Transonic flow phenomena
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
15:15 - 15:45 Coffee break
15:45 - 17:00 Transonic flow corrections
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
Friday 20 February 2026: Aeroelasticity of rotors: helicopters, propellers and wind turbines
09:00 - 10:30 Unsteady aerodynamic modelling of rotors – potential flow
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 - 12:30 Unsteady aerodynamic modelling of rotors – potential flow with viscous corrections
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 Conclusions and Q&A
Prof. Grigorios Dimitriadis, University of Liège, VKI, Belgium
15:00 End of the course
Fee and Registration
- Deadline for on-site registration: 02 February 2026
- Deadline for online registration: 09 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 16 January 2026
- Undergraduate students: €315
- PhD students: €864
- Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1368
- Staff from commercial organizations: €1728
Late Registration after 16 January 2026
- Undergraduate students: €350
- PhD students: €960
- Staff from recognized universities / research center: €1520
- Staff from commercial organizations: €1920