The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is funding a groundbreaking project aimed at developing a new hypersonic engine. This engine will have the ability to change its shape during flight in order to optimize power, thrust, and efficiency. The project has now entered the experimental testing phase in Florida.
In recent times, there has been an international arms race focusing on high-speed technology, with hypersonic aircraft and missiles capable of traveling at speeds between five and 20 times the speed of sound. Several countries are racing to construct and test weapons and planes that can outpace conventional munitions.
The immense aerodynamic challenges posed by these speeds have sparked some captivating projects. One notable initiative by the NRL in 2019 sought to transform the entire shape of an aircraft during flight to create seamless control surfaces. The goal was to replace traditional hinged ailerons and flaps that result in increased drag and heat.
Following in this line of research, a team from the University of Central Florida, led by Professor Kareem Ahmed, has applied a similar concept to the interior of a scramjet engine. Previously, Professor Ahmed and his team achieved the first stable operation of a rotating detonation engine back in 2020.
The new project, which has received a $450,000 grant from the NRL, aims to explore the possibilities of using morphing surfaces to control airflow within the supersonic combustion environment of a scramjet engine. Ahmed and his team have already developed an aerothermodynamic model for the engine and are currently engaged in experimental testing.
“Most hypersonic engines are rigidly structured due to the demanding flight conditions,” says Kareem Ahmed, the principal investigator of the project and a professor in UCF’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “Our research will demonstrate the performance enhancements achieved through an adaptable engine configuration that can optimize its surfaces to maximize power, thrust, and travel distance. This is the first of its kind for hypersonic engines.”
Source: University of Central Florida
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