Aerospace Vehicle Optimization: Design Innovations, Thermal Management, and Practical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is devoted to the latest advancements in aerospace vehicle optimization, particularly focusing on design methodologies, thermal management strategies, and their practical applications. As the aerospace industry progresses toward more complex missions and increasingly stringent performance requirements, innovation in both design and thermal management has become a critical driver of technological advancement. In design optimization, Multidisciplinary Optimization (MDO) integrates aerodynamics, structural engineering, and materials science, employing advanced algorithms to identify optimal solutions. Aerodynamic layout refinement reduces drag, while structural topology optimization enables lightweight design. The incorporation of novel materials, such as carbon fiber composites, further enhances overall performance. Effective thermal management is essential for ensuring the reliable operation of aerospace vehicles under extreme conditions. Liquid cooling systems circulate coolant fluids, such as water–glycol mixtures or dielectric liquids, to dissipate heat from high-temperature components in aircraft engines and avionics systems. Two-phase flow heat transfer leverages the latent heat of phase changes, with two-phase loops enabling efficient long-distance heat transfer in spacecraft and microchannel heat sinks that manage high-heat fluxes. Phase change materials (PCMs), including paraffin-based substances, absorb and release latent heat during phase transitions to stabilize temperatures and are integrated into electronic enclosures and thermal protection systems. For hydrogen-related components, PCMs can help regulate the temperature of hydrogen storage tanks, preventing excessive evaporation and ensuring a stable fuel supply. Hybrid PCM-enhanced heat exchangers combine heat storage and transfer capabilities, supporting reliable operation across diverse aerospace applications, particularly in advanced propulsion systems. This Special Issue invites researchers from around the world to contribute original research, innovative technologies, and practical applications related to aerospace vehicle optimization.

Dr. Yu Xu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Aerospace is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.