Dr. Donald L. Kunz, PhD

Professor of Aerospace Engineering

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Comm: (937) 255-3636 x4548
DSN: 785-3636 x4548

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BS, Aerospace Engineering, Syracuse University, 1971; MS, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1972; PhD, Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology,1976. Dr. Kunz’s research interests include rotorcraft dynamics, vibrations, and loads, structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, multibody dynamics, smart structures, and computational structural mechanics. He has published more than 100 journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports. Prior to coming to AFIT, Dr. Kunz worked at the US Army Aeroflightdynamics Directorate, McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company, Old Dominion University, and the US Army Aviation and Missile Command. He is an Associate Fellow and Lifetime Member of AIAA; a lifetime member of AHS; and a licensed Professional Engineer in the commonwealth of Virginia.

Education

Jun 1976 - Doctor of Philosophy (School of Aerospace Engineering), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia

Aug 1972 - Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (Non-thesis), Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia

Jun 1971 - Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (Cum Laude), Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York

Awards

2013 Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (AFOEA)
2010 Letter of Appreciation for Test Pilot School (TPS) Selection Board participation, TPS/CC (Col Zamot)

2009 Letter of Appreciation for CSAR-X Technology Readiness Assessment Support, AFRL/CC (MG Bedke)

2006 Distinguished Service Award, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics

2004 Leadership Award, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics

2002 Survey Paper Citation, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics

1999 Gold Circle Award, American Helicopter Society

1999 Group Achievement Award, Tilt Rotor Aeroacoustics Model (TRAM) Duits-Nederlandse Windtunnel (DNW) Team, National Aeronautics & Space Administration

1998 Distinguished Service Award, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics

1996 Who's Who in Science and Engineering (3^rd Ed.), Marquis Publications

1996 Men of Achievement (17^th Ed.), International Biographical Centre

1995 Survey Paper Citation, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics

1994 Who's Who in Science and Engineering (2^nd Ed.), Marquis Publications

1992 Apache Longbow First Flight Award, McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company

1990 Tech Brief Award, National Aeronautics & Space Administration

1987 Sustained Superior Performance Award, U.S. Army

1986 Significant Accomplishments Award, U.S. Army

1984 Who's Who in the West (19^th Ed.), Marquis Publications

1984 Sustained Superior Performance Award, U.S. Army

1971 Phi Kappa Phi, University Honor Society, Syracuse University

Publications

Terpening, C.D., Kunz, D.L., and Dickerson, S.M., “Characterization of CH-47D Rotor System Fault Signatures Using a Comprehensive Model,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, to appear.
Gabbard, M.D., Lindsley, N.J., and Kunz, D.L., “Modeling the Effects of Underwing Missile Canards on F-16 Limit Cycle Oscillations,” Journal of Aircraft, to appear, doi: 10.2514/1.C033301.
Hanson, C.Q., Kunz, D.L., and Lindsley, N.J., “Investigation of Missile Control Surface Effects on F-16 Limit Cycle Oscillation,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol.52, No. 2, March-April 2015, pp. 462-470, doi: 10.2514/1.C032741.
Kolsti, K.F. and Kunz, D.L., “A Time-Marching Collocation Method Based on Quintic Hermite Polynomials and Adjustable Acceleration and Jerk Constraints,” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, Vol. 99, No. 8, 24 August 2014, pp. 547-565, doi: 10.1002/nme.4681.
Kolsti, K.F. and Kunz, D.L., “A Point Collocation Method for Geometrically Nonlinear Membranes,” International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 50, No. 2, January 2013, pp. 288-296.
Boston, J.D., Swenson, E.D., Kunz, D.L., Yu, W., and Blair, M., “Experiments with Geometric Non-linear Coupling for Analytical Validation,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 48, No. 4, July-August 2011, pp. 1136-1146.
Schulz, C.S., Kunz, D.L., and Wereley, N.M., “Cramer-Rao Bound Development for Linear Time Periodic Systems,” ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurements and Control, Vol. 133, No. 1, January 2011, 011001.
Kunz, D.L., “Numerical Investigation of Constrained Direct Solutions Using Hamilton’s Law,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 47, No. 11, November 2009, pp. 2747-2756.
Kunz, D.L. and Newkirk, M.C., “A Generalized Dynamic Balancing Procedure for the AH-64 Tail Rotor,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 326, Nos. 1-2, September 2009, pp. 353-366.
Miller, N.A. and Kunz, D.L., “A Comparison of Main Rotor Smoothing Adjustments Using Linear and Neural Network Algorithms,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 311, Nos. 3-5, April 2008, pp. 991-1003.
Canfield, R.A., Morganstern, S.D. and Kunz, D.L., “Alleviation of Buffet-Induced Vibration Using Piezoelectric Actuators,” Computers and Structures, Vol. 86, No. 3-4, February 2008, pp. 281-291.
Smith, A.L. and Kunz, D.L., “Dynamic Coupling of the KC-135 Tanker and Boom for Modeling and Simulation,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 44, No. 3, May-June 2007, pp. 1034-1039.
Leigh, E.J. and Kunz, D.L., “Simulation of a Moving Elastic Beam Using Hamilton’s Weak Principle,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 45, No. 2, February 2007, pp. 471-476.
Pritchard, J.A. and Kunz, D.L., “A Redesigned Tail Rotor for Improvement of CH-53E High-Altitude Performance,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 51, No. 3, July 2006, pp. 266-274.
Kunz, D.L., “Analysis of Prop-Rotor Whirl Flutter: Review and Update,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 42, No. 1, January-February 2005, pp. 172-178.
Saguranrum, S., Kunz, D.L., and Omar, H.A., “Numerical Simulations of Cantilever Beam Response with Saturation Control and Full Modal Coupling,” Computers and Structures, Vol. 81, No. 14, June 2003, pp. 1499-1510.
Kunz, D.L., “Nonlinear Analysis of Helicopter Ground Resonance,” Nonlinear Analysis Series B: Real World Applications, Vol. 3, No. 3, May 2002, pp. 383-395.
Kunz, D.L., “Multimode Control of a Rotating Uniform Cantilever Beam,” Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics, Vol. 25, No. 2, March 2002, pp. 193-199.
Kunz, D.L., “Multibody System Analysis Based on Hamilton’s Weak Principle,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 39, No. 12, December 2001, pp. 2382-2388.
Piatak, D.J. and Kunz, D.L., “An Experimental Testbed for Investigations of Tiltrotor Vibration Control,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 45, No. 4, October 2000, pp. 280-283.
Kunz, D.L. “Modeling Elastomers for Use in Prediction of Helicopter Lag Damper Vibration,” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 226, No. 3, September 1999, pp. 585-594.
Kunz, D.L., “An Object-Oriented Approach to Multibody Systems Analysis,” Computers and Structures, Vol. 69, No.2, August 1998, pp. 209-217.
Kunz, D.L. “Influence of Elastomeric Damper Modeling on the Dynamic Response of Helicopter Rotors,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 35, No. 2, February 1997, pp. 349-354.
Kunz, D.L., “A Survey and Comparison of Engineering Beam Theories for Helicopter Rotor Blades,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 31, No. 3, May-June 1994, pp. 473-479.
Hodges, D.H., Hopkins, A.S., and Kunz, D.L., “Analysis of Structures with Rotating, Flexible Substructures Applied to Rotorcraft Aeroelasticity,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 27, No. 2, Feb. 1989, pp. 192?200.
Kunz, D.L., and Hodges, D.H., “Analytical Modeling of Helicopter Static and Dynamic Induced Velocity in GRASP,” Vertica, Vol. 12, No. 4, 1988, pp. 337?344.
Kunz, D.L., and Hopkins, A.S., “Structured Data in Structural Dynamics Software,” Computers and Structures, Vol. 26, No. 6, 1987, pp. 965?978.
Hodges, D.H., Hopkins, A.S., Kunz, D.L., and Hinnant, H.E., “Introduction to GRASP ? General Rotorcraft Aeromechanical Stability Program ? A Modern Approach to Rotorcraft Modeling,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 32, No. 2, April 1987, pp. 78?90.
Kunz, D.L., “A Nonlinear Response Analysis and Solution Method for Rotorcraft Vibration,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 28, No. 1, January 1983, pp. 56?62.
Kunz, D.L., and Yaggy, K.L., “A Computational Method for Performing the Multiblade Coordinate Transformation,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 27, No. 3, July 1982, pp. 80?82.
Kunz, D.L., “Response Characteristics of a Linear Rotorcraft Vibration Model,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 19, No. 4, April 1982, pp. 297-303.
Pierce, G.A., Kunz, D.L., and Malone, J.B., “The Effect of Varying Freestream Velocity on Dynamic Stall Characteristics,” Journal of the American Helicopter Society, Vol. 23, No. 2, April 1978, pp. 27-33.