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 computational tools and providing knowledge useful for guiding the design and development RDEs.  The computational 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 large eddy simulations to RDEs for providing new insights, interpreting experimental observations, or guiding the design of 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 computational resources including the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Centers.  Computational capabilities include in-house and commercial large eddy simulation (LES) codes and high-performance computing (HPC) systems.

key words

Detonation; Propulsion; Power generation; Detonation modeling; Computational fluid dynamics (CFD); Large eddy simulations (LES); Rotating detonation engines (RDE); Rotating detonation combustor (RDC)

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants