Dispersion of spacecraft components during re-entry. Destructive re-entry trajectories for used satellites are designed so debris remaining after re-entry falls harmlessly to the Earth. However, the dramatic increase in the mass of orbiting objects has outpaced improvements in predicting hazardous impact zones. This project aims to develop the experimental and theoretical methods needed to study separation of objects in hypersonic flow in order to better predict the dispersion of debris from re- ....Dispersion of spacecraft components during re-entry. Destructive re-entry trajectories for used satellites are designed so debris remaining after re-entry falls harmlessly to the Earth. However, the dramatic increase in the mass of orbiting objects has outpaced improvements in predicting hazardous impact zones. This project aims to develop the experimental and theoretical methods needed to study separation of objects in hypersonic flow in order to better predict the dispersion of debris from re-entering space objects. New hypersonic wind tunnel experiments, modelling, and computational simulations will be performed to enhance our understanding and improve predictions of how spacecraft components are dispersed during re-entry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200101674
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$392,310.00
Summary
Novel Testing of a Supersonic Airbreathing Rotating Detonation Engine. Rotating detonation engines offer the potential for improved propulsive efficiency in high speed flight, but the challenges of integrating the advanced detonation combustion process with an airbreathing engine inlet are yet to be met. This project aims to develop a unique Australian testing capability for airbreathing rotating detonation engines and, utilising this capability, to generate unique experimental data to further t ....Novel Testing of a Supersonic Airbreathing Rotating Detonation Engine. Rotating detonation engines offer the potential for improved propulsive efficiency in high speed flight, but the challenges of integrating the advanced detonation combustion process with an airbreathing engine inlet are yet to be met. This project aims to develop a unique Australian testing capability for airbreathing rotating detonation engines and, utilising this capability, to generate unique experimental data to further the operational understanding of airbreathing rotation detonation engines. By contributing essential research to this new engine concept, Australia can forge intellectual capital and international partnerships, and help provide the benefits of cost and weight savings associated with higher performance engines.Read moreRead less
Remote diagnostics for space-access flight testing. Aerospace flight testing is essential for assessing the reliability of space-access technologies including re-usable rockets and hypersonic air-breathing systems. Development of such technologies relies on acquisition of optical data in video and scientific formats, and such capabilities are now required in Australia. By leveraging contributions to international missions, this project develops the essential optical diagnostic tools and techniqu ....Remote diagnostics for space-access flight testing. Aerospace flight testing is essential for assessing the reliability of space-access technologies including re-usable rockets and hypersonic air-breathing systems. Development of such technologies relies on acquisition of optical data in video and scientific formats, and such capabilities are now required in Australia. By leveraging contributions to international missions, this project develops the essential optical diagnostic tools and techniques and establishes an enduring capability for space-access flight testing in Australia, thereby accelerating the research and development pathways for Australian enterprises and designating Australia as a prime destination for international aerospace businesses. Read moreRead less
Development of large scale expansion tubes. The aim of this proposal is to develop a high Mach number scramjet simulation capability by modifying the X3 superorbital expansion tube at UQ for high suborbital operation at very high total pressures. This will enable Australia to do true Mach number simulation at higher speeds than is possible anywhere else, and mantain an international advantage in the development of scramjet flight propulsion. It will also put Australian researchers in a strong p ....Development of large scale expansion tubes. The aim of this proposal is to develop a high Mach number scramjet simulation capability by modifying the X3 superorbital expansion tube at UQ for high suborbital operation at very high total pressures. This will enable Australia to do true Mach number simulation at higher speeds than is possible anywhere else, and mantain an international advantage in the development of scramjet flight propulsion. It will also put Australian researchers in a strong position to participate in the next generation of US ground testing facilities, foreshadowed by the recent NASA purchase of a large shock tunnel driver. It will enable Australia to maintain a position of leadership in the development of new space travel concepts.Read moreRead less
Minimizing hypersonic skin-friction by boundary-layer combustion. The high drag associated with hypersonic flight has been a major obstacle to development of hypersonic aircraft. It is generally accepted that half the drag of hypersonic vehicles will be caused by air friction on the aircraft's skin, due mainly to the turbulent boundary layer which forms on the skin. However, a new method of reducing skin friction, by injecting and burning fuel in the boundary layer, has been discovered. This ....Minimizing hypersonic skin-friction by boundary-layer combustion. The high drag associated with hypersonic flight has been a major obstacle to development of hypersonic aircraft. It is generally accepted that half the drag of hypersonic vehicles will be caused by air friction on the aircraft's skin, due mainly to the turbulent boundary layer which forms on the skin. However, a new method of reducing skin friction, by injecting and burning fuel in the boundary layer, has been discovered. This project is aimed at investigating the range of conditions under which this method will be effective. By this boundary-layer "lubrication" much more efficient hypersonic flight will be possible.Read moreRead less
Enhancing scramjet performance by boundary layer combustion. Australia has developed a strong international reputation over the past 20 years for excellence in research into hypersonic flight technologies. This helps to reinforce the fact that this is a country in which advanced technologies can be conceived and developed. Australian companies and agencies are already collaborating with and are being supported by international organizations to develop further hypersonic flight technologies. Achi ....Enhancing scramjet performance by boundary layer combustion. Australia has developed a strong international reputation over the past 20 years for excellence in research into hypersonic flight technologies. This helps to reinforce the fact that this is a country in which advanced technologies can be conceived and developed. Australian companies and agencies are already collaborating with and are being supported by international organizations to develop further hypersonic flight technologies. Achieving another significant advance in this area by demonstrating significant reductions in frictional drag on hypersonic vehicles will keep us at the forefront of this field and lead to continued international support and collaboration.Read moreRead less
Fluid-thermal-structural interactions on high-speed aerospace vehicles. Sixteen years after the retirement of Concorde, high-speed commercial flight is once again on the rise with the development of new supersonic business jets and small airliners as well as hypersonic transport and reusable space launch systems. Robust and efficient designs for these light-weight vehicles must address the problem of aerodynamic heating and its effect on structural performance and lifing. This project will desig ....Fluid-thermal-structural interactions on high-speed aerospace vehicles. Sixteen years after the retirement of Concorde, high-speed commercial flight is once again on the rise with the development of new supersonic business jets and small airliners as well as hypersonic transport and reusable space launch systems. Robust and efficient designs for these light-weight vehicles must address the problem of aerodynamic heating and its effect on structural performance and lifing. This project will design and perform first-of-kind experiments that reproduce the complex fluid-thermal-structural interactions representative of those experienced by these aircraft and rockets. We will then use these measurements to assess, validate and improve the current state-of-the-art of simulation and modelling approaches for design.Read moreRead less
Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accu ....Fluid-structural interactions in high-speed flows. This project aims to perform experiments to measure fluid-structure interaction in hypersonic flows. The work will improve the accuracy of simulation tools that are urgently required to aid industry in the design of more structurally efficient and robust high-speed vehicles. These tools will in turn be used to reveal the underlying physics of the fluid-structure interactions and establish the relative significance of the driving parameters. Accurate prediction of the behaviour and lifetime of structural components subject to these fluid-structural interactions, in which the deformation of the structure induced by the local flow field, can in turn influence this flow field. This coupling can result in damage or even catastrophic structural failure and thus robust design tools must be developed to avoid this.Read moreRead less
Acoustic loads on hypersonic engines. This project aims to understand how acoustic loads are generated in supersonic combustion ramjets (scramjets) to control sonic fatigue in reusable hypersonic vehicles. This knowledge could make space access affordable. This project will measure acoustic waves in scramjets. The anticipated discoveries will enable reusable, hypersonic vehicles to be used for space launch systems and high-speed aircraft. These systems will dramatically reduce the cost of space ....Acoustic loads on hypersonic engines. This project aims to understand how acoustic loads are generated in supersonic combustion ramjets (scramjets) to control sonic fatigue in reusable hypersonic vehicles. This knowledge could make space access affordable. This project will measure acoustic waves in scramjets. The anticipated discoveries will enable reusable, hypersonic vehicles to be used for space launch systems and high-speed aircraft. These systems will dramatically reduce the cost of space launch and global travel times. Expected benefits include reduced cost for access to space and the ability to design and develop advanced aerospace technology.Read moreRead less
Mach 10 Hydrogen fuelled scramjet development. Safe and economic access to space is a major technological challenge of the 21st century. Airbreathing engines, in particular, scramjets offer the potential to meet this challenge. The project aims to develop an understanding of the engineering and physical principals that determines the performance of a class of scramjet operating at hypervelocity speeds (>3km/s). Novel and innovative ideas will be explored which for the first time will provide ....Mach 10 Hydrogen fuelled scramjet development. Safe and economic access to space is a major technological challenge of the 21st century. Airbreathing engines, in particular, scramjets offer the potential to meet this challenge. The project aims to develop an understanding of the engineering and physical principals that determines the performance of a class of scramjet operating at hypervelocity speeds (>3km/s). Novel and innovative ideas will be explored which for the first time will provide the understandings necessary to make well founded predictions of the cost effectiveness of this approach, as well as provide the blue print to develop an engine which can operate at Mach 10.Read moreRead less