| New DOD-funded project will develop morphing hypersonic engine
Illustration of scramjet hypersonic propulsion engine design by UCF, which will be used to investigate the flow conditions and the adaptive morphing engine control system designs.
New DOD-funded project will develop morphing hypersonic engine
by Mikita Nayee for UCF News
Orlando FL (SPX) Sep 12, 2023
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A new Naval Research Laboratory funded project led by a UCF researcher will work to create a morphing hypersonic engine for ultra-fast travel, building on UCF's already leading edge developing hypersonic propulsion.
Hypersonic propulsion would allow for air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, or more than 4,600 to 13,000 mph, and has applications in commercial and space travel. Although the technology has been around since the 1960s, countries including the U.S., Russia and China, are racing to improve the systems to achieve more efficient and longer, more sustained hypersonic flight.
The $450,000 Naval Research Laboratory grant-funded project will develop a hypersonic engine that can morph or transform its configuration during flights to optimize performance.
"Most hypersonic engines are structurally fixed due to the challenging flight environment," says the project's principal investigator Kareem Ahmed, a professor in UCF's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. "Our research will show the performance gains from an adaptable engine configuration that would self-optimize its surfaces to maximize performance power, thrust and travel distance which is the first of its kind for hypersonic engines."
Ahmed is a leading researcher in the field of hypersonics, achieving the first stabilized and sustained rotating detonation wave for hypersonic travel and heading a $1.5 million U.S. Department of Defense award to develop high-performance fuels for hypersonic propulsion.
This new research project is based off Ahmed's work on "scramjet", or supersonic combustion ramjet engines. The key feature of a scramjet engine is its ability to combust air at supersonic speeds without slowing it down to subsonic speeds, as is done in traditional jet engines.
Ahmed and his research team have developed an aerothermodynamic model for the hypersonic, morphing scramjet engine and are currently in the stage of experimental testing it to assess the performance. Aerothermodynamics analyzes the interaction of gases at high speeds and elevated temperatures.
"We are very happy for being selected for the program," Ahmed says. "Our lab has been a leader and innovator in high-speed and hypersonic propulsion and this program gives our group the opportunity to contribute and make an impact."
Artificial Intelligence Summary
Defense Industry Analyst: 9/10 Stock Market Analyst: 6 General Industry Analyst: 7 Analyst Summary: This article discusses a new project funded by the Naval Research Laboratory and led by a researcher from the University of Central Florida (UCF) to create a morphing hypersonic engine for ultra-fast travel. Hypersonic propulsion would enable air travel at speeds of Mach 6 to 17, or more than 4,600 to 13,000 mph. Countries such as the U.S., Russia, and China are racing to improve these systems to achieve more efficient and longer, more sustained hypersonic flight. The project is being funded with a $450,000 grant and seeks to develop a hypersonic engine that can morph or transform its configuration during flights to optimize performance. The research is based on the principal investigator’s work on scramjet or supersonic combustion ramjet engines, which are capable of combusting air at supersonic speeds without slowing it down to subsonic speeds. The development of hypersonic propulsion has been a significant event in the space and defense industry over the past 25 years. Numerous countries have invested heavily in hypersonic propulsion and have achieved considerable progress in the development of the technology. The article highlights UCF’s leading edge research in the field and the potential for more efficient and longer, more sustained hypersonic flight. The article also sheds light on the new project funded by the Naval Research Laboratory, which seeks to develop a hypersonic engine with improved performance. Investigative Question:- 1. How does the new morphing hypersonic engine differ from existing hypersonic engines?
- 2. What are the potential applications of the morphing hypersonic engine?
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What other countries are investing in hypersonic propulsion research?4. What challenges does the new project face in developing a morphing hypersonic engine? 5. How will the performance of the morphing hypersonic engine be tested and evaluated?
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