Australian space launch capability - Rotating Detonation Engine Research

An Australian research consortium has successfully tested a next generation propulsion system that could enable high-speed flight and space launch services.

The team’s rotating detonation engine, or RDE, is a major technical achievement and an Australian first.

It was designed by RMIT University engineers and is being developed by a consortium led by DefendTex, with researchers from RMIT, University of Sydney and Universität der Bundeswehr in Germany.

Following this successful engine test, which brings Australian space launch capability a step closer, we speak with the research team -
• Travis Reddy, Chief Executive Officer, DefendTex Pty Ltd
• Dr. Adrian Pudsey, Responsive Access to Space Technical Lead, RMIT University
• Associate Professor Matthew Cleary, Deputy Head (Research) of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney

This project would not have been possible without Cooperative Research Centre project funding.

Further reading https://spaceanddefense.io/successful-engine-test-brings-australian-space-launch-capability-a-step-closer/

#space #spacetechnology #RDE #RMITUniversity #DefendTex #UniversityofSydney #aerospace

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Travis Reddy
Chief Executive Officer, DefendTex Pty Ltd

Travis Reddy is an Australian entrepreneur and technologist. After completing a Bachelor of Information Technology at Monash University in 1992, Travis developed a number of successful software products for the retail and law enforcement sectors which were ultimately acquired by international companies. Travis has always had a strong interest in the defence industry having been an Army reservist for in excess of 20 years. Using his product innovation and commercialisation experience and applying this to a defence context, Travis founded DefendTex in 2014 to be uniquely Australian with a strong emphasis on innovation. Travis now has companies in Australia, USA and the UK.

Dr. Adrian Pudsey
Responsive Access to Space Technical Lead
RMIT University

Dr. Adrian Pudsey joined RMIT as a Lecturer in 2015. He received a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Queensland in 2014, and has been working in the aerospace field for 25 years including a long career in the Royal Australian Air Force and a 3-year posting to DST Group as a researcher in the field of hypersonics. Dr. Pudsey has also spent time as a Research Associate at Universität der Bundeswehr in Munich, Germany investigating high temperature Mars re-entry flows in the Universities Plasma Wind Tunnel facility. He is now project Technical Lead for the CRC-P Responsive Access to Space, developing next generation space access and high-speed flight technology. Dr Pudsey has extensive experience in collaborating with industry, academia and government organisations.

Associate Professor Matthew Cleary
Deputy Head (Research) of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney

My research is on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of turbulent fluid flows involving combustion and multiple phases (gas, liquid, solid). In particular, I focus on and approach known as large eddy simulation in which the large-scale turbulent motions in the flow are numerically resolved and the small-scale random motions are estimated through models based on physical laws and empirical observations. This approach is particularly useful for unsteady flows involving highly complex and spatially variable phenomena. My research group validates these models and associated computational solvers through close collaboration with experimental researchers who provide detailed data against which the simulation results can be compared and improved. Subsequently the models can be used to design and optimise real-world engineering devices. We work on a wide range of fundamental problems including combustion stability, pollutant formation, and the combustion of liquid sprays and solid particle dispersions. These are applicable to power generation, internal combustion engines and fires. My recent research directions have focused on supersonic combustion and rotating detonation engines, soot and nanoparticle formation and the atomisation of liquid jets relevant to combustion engines and chemical reactors. I teach fluid mechanics, energy and propulsion courses.

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