Overview

Dr. Jielong 'Jacky' Cai is an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at 萝莉社 University. He specializes in the area of experimental aerodynamics and air vehicle design. His research interests include applied low speed aerodynamics, rotorcraft & propeller aerodynamics and small scale air vehicle flight testing (fixed wing and multi rotor). He is leading the 萝莉社 3x4 ft low-speed wind tunnel aerodynamics research group. He also serve as the KEEN Catalyst for the Aerospace Engineering Department and focuses on applied learning for aerospace engineering.

Information

Areas of Research Interest

Applied Low Speed Aerodynamics

  • Experimental Aerodynamics Investigation on Novel Wing and Vehicle Design
  • Aerodynamic Interaction between Propeller and Wing in Low Speed Transition

Rotorcraft & Propeller Aerodynamics

  • Propeller to Propeller Interaction for Multi-rotor Vehicle Applications
  • Novel High-Efficiency Multi-Rotor Wind Tunnel & Flight Testing
  • Unsteady Aerodynamics Response of Propeller

Small Scale Air Vehicle Flight Testing

  • Flight Testing for Fixed Wing and Multi-Rotor UAV.
  • Experimental Data Validation with Flight Testing
Areas of Teaching Interest

AE 528 Aerospace Design I

AE 628 Aerospace Design II

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

2024: Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Predicting Fixed Pitch Propeller Performance Across Incidence Angles and Advance Ratios鈥� AIAA Journal.

2024: Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Propeller Ceiling Effect in Forward Flight鈥� AIAA Journal of Aircraft. Doi: 10.2514/1.C037779

2023: Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Propeller Ground Effect in Forward Flight鈥� AIAA Journal, Doi: 10.2514/1.J062984

2023: Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥淔requency Response of RC Propellers to Streamwise Gusts in Forward Flight鈥�, MDPI Wind, doi: 10.3390/wind3020015

2022: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., and OL, M., V., 鈥�Effect of Partial Ground and Partial Ceiling on Propeller Performance鈥�, AIAA Journal of Aircraft, doi: 10.2514/1.C036974

2020: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., and OL, M., V. "Propeller Ground and Ceiling Effect Parametric Data", AIAA Journal of Aircraft, doi: 10.2514/1.C035839.

Peer-Reviewed Conference Publications

2025: Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Prediction of the Tandem Propeller Performance using Linear Superposition Method鈥�, AIAA SciTech 2025 Forum.

2024: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., and OL, M., V., 鈥�Investigation of Positively Staggered Vertically Offset Propellers in Tandem鈥�, AIAA SciTech 2024 Forum, AIAA 2024-1510

2023: Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Sinusoidal Gust Response of RC Propellers in Tandem Configuration鈥� Vertical Flight Society Forum 79, 79-2023-1154

2023: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., and OL, M., V., 鈥�Vertically Offset Overlapping Propellers in Tandem Configuration鈥�, AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum, AIAA 2023-2464

2022: Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥淧ropeller Ground and Ceiling Effect in Forward Flight鈥�, Vertical Flight Society Forum 78, 78-2022-0072

2022: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., and OL, M., V., "Sinusoidal Gust Response of RC Propellers at Different Incidence Angles ", AIAA SciTech 2022 Forum, AIAA 2022-1536

2021: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., and OL, M., V. "Propeller Partial Ground and Ceiling Effect Prediction", AIAA SciTech 2021 Forum. AIAA 2021-0614.

2020: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., OL, M., V. and Ahmed, A., "Propeller Partial Ground Effect", AIAA SciTech 2020 Forum. AIAA 2020-1028.

2019: Cai, J., Gunasekaran, S., Ahmed, A., and OL, M., V., "Changes in Propeller Performance Due to Ground Proximity", AIAA SciTech 2019 Forum, AIAA 2019-1097.

Other Peer Reviewed Conference Publications

2025: DeMoor, J. and Foster, M. Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Flight Test and Wind Tunnel Testing of a Novel Tandem Overlapping Drone Concept鈥� AIAA SciTech 2025 Forum

2025: Parlett, S., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Experimental Investigation of a Variable Pitch Propeller at Various Incidence Angles in Forward Flight鈥� AIAA SciTech 2025 Forum

2025: Schreyer, G., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Experimental Investigation of Various Lift Distribution Wing Designs鈥� AIAA SciTech 2025 Forum

2024: Pabon, J., Gao, X., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥淓xperimental Investigation of a Skin-Actuated-Camber (SAC) Morphing Wing Design鈥�, AIAA SciTech 2024 Forum

2024: Duncan, L., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥淧owered Wing's Response to Streamwise Gust Encounters鈥�, AIAA SciTech 2024 Forum

2024: Schutter, E., Guzman, C., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�On the Linear Superposition of Wing and Propeller Performance in a Wing Embedded Propeller System鈥� AIAA SciTech 2024 Forum

2023: Gogidze, G., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Effect of Propeller Incidence Angle on Wing Embedded Propeller Configuration in Forward Flight鈥�, AIAA SciTech 2023 Forum, AIAA 2023-2284

2024: Kulig, J., Running, C., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Back-Imaging of Pressure-Sensitive Paint to Determine Close Proximity Ground Effects of Propellers鈥� AIAA SciTech 2024 Forum

2022: Culpepper, G, G., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Effect of Forward Propeller Tilt and Inlet Shape in Propeller-in-Wing Thrust Vectoring鈥� AIAA SciTech 2022 Forum, AIAA 2022-1539

2021: Culpepper, G, G., Cai, J., and Gunasekaran, S., 鈥�Propeller and Propeller-in-Wing Thrust Vectoring鈥� AIAA SciTech 2021 Forum, AIAA 2021-0615.

Awards and Honors

2024: School of Engineering Graduate Research Scholars Award, awarded by the University of Dayton.

2024: Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Assistant Award, awarded by the University of Dayton.

2022: Outstanding Research Award, Aerospace Engineering, awarded by the University of Dayton.

2019: Outstanding Graduate Scholarship Award, Aerospace Engineering, awarded by the University of Dayton.

2019: Koehler International Student Award, awarded by the University of Dayton.