Bianca Capra

Aviation Program and YoWIE Coordinator
Senior Lecturer

Bianca is an aerospace engineer working working in the field of aerothermodynamics of high-speed flight. Her research interests include:

  • The study of the effect of hot walls on the flow in and around high speed vehicles, focusing on the changes to key fluid mechanics features, such as mechanisms for mixing and mass transport and the state of the boundary layer
  • Hot wall experimental testing in hypersonic wind tunnels
  • Modelling and prediction of ablation in high speed flight
  • Mechanisms for improving participation and engagement of minority groups in STEM and aerospace engineering in particular. 

Bianca has attracted over $1.5M of funding for this research. She has over 11 years’ experience in the higher education sector and is a strong advocate for promoting and supporting gender equity in STEM and particularly aerospace related areas. Bianca is currently the co-chair UNSW Canberra's YoWIE (Young Women In Engineering) program, chair the Women in Fluid Mechanics  and Outreach sub-committees of the Australasian Fluids Mechanics Society, an STA Superstar of STEM, STEM Coordinator for Women in Aviation Australian Chapter and the Cool Aeronautics coordinator of the Canberra Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. 

Bianca holds both a bachelor's degree and Ph.D in aerospace engineering from the University of Queensland, a Graduate certificate in Academic Practice from the Queensland University of Technology and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society. 

        PUBLICATIONS
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        Book Chapters
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        Tirtey S; Boyce R; Brown M; Capra B; Creagh M; Dedman A; Dimitrijevic I; Pudsey A; Sharp B; Van Standen P; others , 2014, 'SCRAMSPACE: Radical-Farming Scramjet for access to space', in STO-EN-AVT-234 Hypersonic Flight Testing, Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI)
        2014
        Conference Papers
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        Moran JH; Capra BR; Neely AJ, 2020, 'A numerical analysis of energy deposition into a hot wall under hypersonic conditions', in 23rd AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, 2020
        2020
        Capra B; Moran J; Brown M; Boyce R; Trifoni E; Schettino A; Purpura C; Martucci A; Gollan R, 2019, 'Aerothermal Analysis of 3D Concave Cone inHypersonic Flow in SCIROCCO', in Proceedings of the 32nd International Symposium on Shock Waves (ISSW32 2019), Research Publishing Services, presented at Proceedings of the 32nd International Symposium on Shock Waves (ISSW32 2019), 14 July 2019 - 19 July 2019, http://dx.doi.org/10.3850/978-981-11-2730-4_0220-cd
        2019
        Basore KD; Selzer M; Wheatley V; Boyce RR; Mee DJ; Capra BR; Kuhn M; Brieschenk S, 2016, 'Performance comparison of distributed injection methods for hypersonic film-cooling', in Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, AFMC 2016
        2016
        Capra B; Omrani S; Garcia-Hansen V; Drogemuller R, 2016, 'Predicting environmental conditions at building site for natural ventilation design: Correlation of meteorological data to air speed at building openings', in 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Adelaide, Australia, presented at 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Adelaide, Australia, 07 December 2016 - 09 December 2016
        2016
        Capra B; Omrani S; Garcia-Hansen V; Drogemuller R, 2016, 'Thermal comfort evaluation of natural ventilation mode: case study of a high rise residential building', in 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Adelaide, 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, presented at 50th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia, 07 December 2016 - 09 December 2016
        2016
        Capra B; Basore K; Selzer M; Wheatley V; Boyce RR; Mee D; Kuhn M; Brieschenk S, 2016, 'Performance Comparison of Distributed Fuel Injection Methods for Hypersonic Film-Cooling', in 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Perth, Australia, presented at 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Perth, Australia, 05 December 2016 - 08 December 2016
        2016
        Basore KD; Selzer M; Wheatley V; Boyce RR; Mee DJ; Capra BR; Kuhn M; Brieschenk S, 2016, 'Performance comparison of distributed injection methods for hypersonic film-cooling', in Proceedings of the 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, AFMC 2016
        2016
        Ogawa H; Capra B; Lorrain P, 2015, 'Numerical investigation of upstream fuel injection through porous media for scramjet engines via surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms', in 53rd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2015-0884
        2015
        Capra B; Omrani S; Garcia-Hansen V; Drogemuller R, 2015, 'Investigation of the Effect of Balconies on Natural Ventilation of Dwellings in High-Rise Residential Buildings in Subtropical Climate', in 49th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, 49th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Melbourne, Australia, presented at 49th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Melbourne, Australia, 02 December 2015 - 04 December 2015
        2015
        Capra B; Dawes L; Brown R, 2015, 'Abstract concepts made real: A pilot study examining pedagogical approaches in thermodynamics tutorials', in 26th Annual Conference of the Australasian Associated of Engineering Education, 26th Annual Conference of the Australasian Associated of Engineering Education, Geelong, Australia, presented at 26th Annual Conference of the Australasian Associated of Engineering Education, Geelong, Australia, 06 December 2015 - 09 December 2015
        2015
        Capra B; Omrani S; Hansen-Garcia V; Drogemuller R, 2014, 'Natural Ventilation Heuristics in High-Rise Residential Buildings: Evaluation and Prediction', in 48th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, 48th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Italy, presented at 48th International Conference of the Architectural Science Association, Italy, 09 December 2014 - 10 December 2014
        2014
        Capra BR, 2014, 'Porous fuel injection with oxygen enrichment in a viable scramjet engine', in Proceedings of the 19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, AFMC 2014
        2014
        Capra BR; Morgan RG, 2013, 'Total heat transfer measurements on a flight investigation of reentry environment model', in Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, pp. 494 - 503, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.A32333
        2013
        Lorrain P; Brieschenk S; Capra BR; Boyce RR, 2012, 'A detailed investigation of nominally 2-D radical-farming scramjet combustion', in 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2012
        2012
        Lorrain P; Brieschenk S; Capra BR; Boyce RR, 2012, 'A detailed investigation of nominally 2-D radical-farming scramjet combustion', in 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2012-5812
        2012
        Capra BR; Lorrain P; Boyce RR; Brieschenk S; Kuhn M; Hald H, 2012, 'H2 - O2 porous fuel injection in a radical farming scramjet', in 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2012-5814
        2012
        Tirtey S; Boyce R; Brown L; Creagh M; van Staden P; Dimitrijevic I; Capra B, 2012, 'The SCRAMSPACE I scramjet flight design and construction', in 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Tours, France, pp. 5843 - 5843, presented at 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Tours, France, 24 September 2012 - 28 September 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2012-5843
        2012
        Capra BR; Lorrain P; Boyce RR; Brieschenk S; Kuhn M; Hald H, 2012, 'H2 - O2 porous fuel injection in a radical farming scramjet', in 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2012
        2012
        Capra BR; Boyce RR; Brieschenk S, 2012, 'Numerical modelling of porous injection in a radical farming scramjet', in 28th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences 2012, ICAS 2012, pp. 2512 - 2522
        2012
        Brieschenk S; Lorrain P; Capra B; Boyce RR; McIntyre T; Kleine HH; O Byrne SB, 2012, 'Chemiluminescence Imaging in Supersonic Combustors Operating in Radical-Farming Mode', in 18th AIAA Int. Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conf., AIAA, Tours, France, presented at 18th AIAA Int. Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conf., Tours, France, 24 September 2012 - 28 September 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2012-5854
        2012
        Morgan RG; McIntyre TJ; Buttsworth DR; Jacobs PA; Potter DF; Brandis AM; Gollan RJ; Jacobs CM; Capra BR; McGilvray M; Eichmann T, 2008, 'Impulse facilities for the simulation of hypersonic radiating flows', in 38th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2008-4270
        2008
        Capra BR; Morgan RG, 2006, 'Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a Titan explorer model', in A Collection of Technical Papers - 14th AIAA/AHI International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, pp. 258 - 281, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2006-7934
        2006
        Morgan RG; McIntyre TJ; Jacobs PA; Buttsworth DR; Macrossan MN; Gollan RJ; Capra BR; Brandis AM; Potter D; Eichmann T; Jacobs CM; McGilvray M; Van Diem D; Scott MP, 2006, 'Impulse facility simulation of hypervelocity radiating flows', in European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP
        2006
        Capra BR; Morgan RG; Leyland P, 2004, 'Heat transfer measurements of the first experimental layer of the fire II reentry vehicle in expansion tubes', in European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP, pp. 243 - 248
        2004
        Capra BR; Morgan RG; Leyland P, 2004, 'New gauge design to measure radiative heat transfer to a titan aerocapture vehicle in expansion tubes', in European Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP, pp. 189 - 194
        2004
        Capra BR; Leyland P; Morgan RG, 2004, 'Subscale testing of the Fire II vehicle in a superorbital expansion tube', in AIAA Paper, pp. 10498 - 10506
        2004
        Journal articles
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        Moran JH; Capra BR; Neely AJ, 2021, 'Numerical tool for quantifying energy deposition effects on representative hypersonic vehicle structures', Aerospace Science and Technology, vol. 116, pp. 106862 - 106862, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2021.106862
        2021
        Seifhashem M; Capra BR; Milller W; Bell J, 2018, 'The potential for cool roofs to improve the energy efficiency of single storey warehouse-type retail buildings in Australia: A simulation case study', Energy and Buildings, vol. 158, pp. 1393 - 1403, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.11.034
        2018
        Capra BR; Brown LM; Boyce RR, 2018, 'Aerothermal-structural analysis of a rocket-launched Mach 8 scramjet experiment: Descent', Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, vol. 55, pp. 501 - 517, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.A33964
        2018
        Omrani S; Garcia-Hansen V; Capra BR; Drogemuller R, 2017, 'On the effect of provision of balconies on natural ventilation and thermal comfort in high-rise residential buildings', Building and Environment, vol. 123, pp. 504 - 516, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.07.016
        2017
        Omrani S; Garcia-Hansen V; Capra BR; Drogemuller R, 2017, 'Effect of natural ventilation mode on thermal comfort and ventilation performance: Full-scale measurement', Energy and Buildings, vol. 156, pp. 1 - 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.09.061
        2017
        Omrani S; Garcia-Hansen V; Capra B; Drogemuller R, 2017, 'Natural ventilation in multi-storey buildings: Design process and review of evaluation tools', Building and Environment, vol. 116, pp. 182 - 194, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.02.012
        2017
        Capra BR; Boyce RR; Kuhn M; Hald H, 2015, 'Porous versus porthole fuel injection in a radical farming scramjet: Numerical analysis', Journal of Propulsion and Power, vol. 31, pp. 789 - 804, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.B35404
        2015
        Capra BR; Brown LM; Boyce RR; Tirtey SC; Russell G, 2015, 'Aerothermal-structural analysis of a rocket-launched Mach 8 scramjet experiment: Ascent', Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, vol. 52, pp. 684 - 696, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.A33112
        2015
        Capra BR; Boyce RR; Kuhn M; Hald H, 2015, 'Combustion enhancement in a scramjet engine using oxygen enrichment and porous fuel injection', Journal of Fluid Mechanics, vol. 767, pp. 173 - 198, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2015.43
        2015
        Capra BR; Morgan RG, 2012, 'Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a titan explorer model', Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, vol. 49, pp. 12 - 23, http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.52961
        2012

        MEDIA RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT
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        Bianca is heavily engaged within the UNSW Canberra and Australian Fluid Mechanics communities and in STEM Outreach.

        Bianca's engagement activities include:

        • Co-Chair of UNSW Canberra's YoWIE (Young Women in Engineering) Program
        • Vice President of the Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society
        • Chair of the Women in Fluid Mechanics Subcommittee of the Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society
        • Chair of the Outreach Subcommittee of the Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society
        • Committee member of the UNSW Canberra EDI Committee
        • Member of the UNSW Athena Swan Self Assessment Team
        • Member of the UNSW Canberra Family Network Committee
        • Science & Technology Australia Superstar of STEM
        • STEM Coordinator, Women in Aviation Australian Chapter
        • Vice Chair Canberra Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Cool Aeronautics Coordinator for Canberra Branch

        AWARDS
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        • 2021 Spitfire Memorial Defense Fellow
        • Science and Technology Superstars of STEM (2019)
        • Vice Chancellor's Performance Award for Research (2015)
        • Winner Research Innovation and Supervision Award (Internationalisation) Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology, UQ (2013)
        • Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship (2005 and 2004)

        GRANTS
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        Selected research funding

        2021

        • Capra, Spitfire Memorial Defence Fellowship, AUD43,000 (1 year)
        • Neely, Capra, Kleine, Buttsworth. Fluid-thermal-structural iterations on high-speed aerospace vehicles, ARC DP210100561, AUD480,000 (3 years)
        • Neely et al, Fluid-thermal-structural interactions on high-speed flight and propulsion, NCI NCMAS 1000kSU

        2020

        • Neely, O’Byrne, Capra. Hypersonic Aerosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (Phase 1), DST Collaborative Project Agreement. AUD1,171,000 (2 years)
        • O’Byrne, Neely, Gai, Kleine, Capra, Currao, McQuellin, Measuring the influence of wall-temperature ratio distribution on transition using optical diagnostics, US Air Force Academy High-speed Vehicles Simulation Institute.  AUD637,000 (3 years)
        • Neely, Tyo, Hazell, Capra, O’Byrne, Escobedo-Diaz, Kleine, Currao, Liow, High-Speed IR Thermographic Camera, UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme (RSI). AUD137,000 (1 year)
        • Neely, Currao, Capra, Fluid-thermal-structural interactions for high-speed flight and propulsion,  NCI NCMAS + Intersect. 500kSU (equivalent to AUD20,000)
        • Capra, Hot wall Cavity Flow, UNSW Canberra Rectors Start-up Grant, AUD50,000 (2 years)
        • Vaughn, Boyce, Tahtali, Capra, Lambert, Lorrain, Kurtz, Multi-purpose vacuum chamber upgrade for thermo-mechanical testing of spacecraft, optical and other advanced technologies under thermal loads, UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme (RSI), AUD23,398 (1 year)

        2019 

        • Gai, Neely, O'Byrne, Kleine, Capra, Wall Temperature and Bluntness Effects in High Enthalpy Hypervelocity Separated Flows, USAF AFOSR FA2386-19-1-4023. AUD217,000 (3 years)
        • Neely, Young, Kleine, Capra, Gai, Tian, Hoke, Lai, Digital Image Correlation Software Suite, UNSW Research Infrastructure Scheme (RSI), AUD35,000 (1 year)
        • Capra, Neely, O'Byrne, Hald, Effect of targeted thermal energy on hot hypersonic structures, Northrup Grumman Australia, AUD22,800 (1 year)

        2015

        • Morgan et al, Radiation and Ablation in Rapidly Expanding Flows, ARC DP150100631, AUD503,400 (3 years)

         

        Organisational units
        lensSchool of Engineering & Information Technology
        Sub Theme
        lensHypersonics & High Speed Flows
        lensFluid & Fluid-structure Interactions