Improving understanding of rotating detonation engines (RDEs) is important for many propulsion and power applications with significant impact and broad relevance to next-generation Air Force systems.  Rotating detonation engines provide the potential for enhancing the range, speed, and affordability of ramjet, rocket, and gas turbine engines.  The primary objective involves developing advanced experimental tools and providing knowledge useful for guiding the design and development RDEs.  The experimental research should focus on one of the following areas:

(a) Investigate fundamental phenomena associated with detonation propagation, fuel-air mixing, turbulence, or chemical kinetics in RDEs operating in relevant regimes.

(b) Quantify thermodynamic loss mechanisms associated with RDEs such as combustion efficiency, inlet dynamics, or exit dynamics.

(c) Develop and apply intrusive or non-intrusive diagnostic techniques for measuring combustion efficiency, fuel-air mixing, pressure, temperature, or velocity in RDEs.

The research is expected to be conducted in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directorate Turbine Engine Division Combustion Branch.  The Combustion Branch provides access to state-of-the-art experimental resources including the Combustion Research Complex and High Pressure Combustion Research Facility.  The experimental facilities are capable of supplying large amounts of air and fuel at the pressures, temperatures, and flow rates necessary to achieve relevant conditions in representative configurations.  Experimental capabilities include but are not limited to emissions sampling; hot-wire anemometry; high-speed broadband, filtered chemiluminescence, and mid-infrared imaging; hydroxyl and formaldehyde planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging; particle image velocimetry (PIV); and phase Doppler particle anemometry (PDPA).

key words

Detonation; Propulsion; Power generation; Detonation experiments; Optical Diagnostics; Laser Diagnostics; Rotating detonation engines (RDE); Rotating detonation combustor (RDC)

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants