Faculty Directory

Research in high-speed propulsion, detonation engines, thermo-acoustic combustion instabilities, and active combustion control. Research focuses on bringing innovation to the engineering technology by improving our understanding of the fluid transport, transient mixing and heat release processes in chemically reacting flows associated with high-speed propulsion systems.

ENAE 455: Aircraft Propulsion and Power

This is an introductory class on aircraft jet propulsion, with the main emphasis on the fundamentals of gas turbine engines. It is intended for the upper-level engineering undergraduate student with prerequisite knowledge of elementary fluid mechanics, gas dynamics, and thermodynamics. The jet engine operating principles are presented. Many variations of gas turbines including turbojet, turbofan, turboprop, and turboshaft are examined. The central topics include: (i) thermodynamic cycle analysis that enables engine performance assessment, (ii) individual component analysis including fundamentals of turbomachinery, (iii) overall system analysis and component matching for gas turbine design considerations. Also, some additional, supplementary topics, including (iv) reviews of fluid mechanics and aerothermodynamics, (v) equilibrium chemistry involving fuels and propellants, and (vi) contemporary advances in air-breathing engine technologies are addressed to strengthen the foundation and provide the proper engineering context.

ENAE 665: Advanced Air-breathing Propulsion

This is a graduate-level introductory class on advanced air-breathing propulsion concepts.  High-speed air-breathing propulsion engines currently in use or in development, such as ramjets, scramjets, pulse detonation engines, and rotating detonation engines are examined from the fundamental systems perspective as well as from the engineering points of view.  Relevant equations of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and combustion are derived for analyzing their performance, using simplifying system models and practical approximations.  Additional topics include contemporary problems and special case studies involving research and development of the high-speed engines.  Some of the technical challenges, including ramjet combustion instability suppression, scramjet flame-holding and mixing enhancement, and detonation initiation and control problems are highlighted and examined in more detail.

Recent Journal Articles

• Burr, J.R., and Yu, K.H., “Experimental Characterization of RDE Combustor Flowfield Using Linear Channel,” Proc. of Combustion Institute, Vol. 37 (3), pp. 3471-3478, (2019). Doi: 10.1016/j.proci.2018.09.001

• Park, S., Ghosh, A., and Yu, K.H., “Simplified Description of Heat Release Oscillations for Assessing Combustor Stability,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 35 (1), pp. 152-158, (2019). Doi: 10.2514/1.B36740

• Aguilera, C., and Yu, K.H., “Effect of Fin-Guided Fuel Injection on Dual-Mode Scramjet Operation,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 33 (4), pp. 927-938 (2017). Doi: 10.2514/1.B36305

• Geerts, J.S., and Yu, K.H., “Systematic Application of Background Oriented Schlieren for Isolator Shock Train Visualization,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 55 (4), pp. 1105-1117, (2017). Doi: 10.2514/1.J054991

• Diao, Q., Ghosh, A., and Yu, K.H., “Combustion Instability Suppression in Gaseous Oxygen/Hydrogen Combustors Using Methane Dilution,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 33 (3), pp. 719-729, (2017).  Doi: 10.2514/1.B36016

• Aguilera, C., and Yu, K.H., “Scramjet to Ramjet Transition in a Dual-Mode Combustor with Fin-Guided Injection,” Proc. of Combustion Institute, Vol. 36 (2), pp. 2911-2918 (2017). Doi: 10.1016/j.proci.2016.06.113

• Fievisohn, R., and Yu, K.H., “Steady-State Analysis of Rotating Detonation Engine Flowfields with the Method of Characteristics,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 33 (1), pp. 89-99, (2017). Doi: 10.2514/1.B36103

• Geerts, J.S., and Yu, K.H., “Shock Train/Turbulent Boundary Layer Interaction in Rectangular Scramjet Isolators,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 54 (11), pp. 3450-3464, (2016). Doi: 10.2514/1.J054917

• Ghosh, A.*, Diao, Q., and Yu, K.H., “Effect of Flow Parameters on the Acoustic Susceptibility of Shear Coaxial Flames,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 32(2), pp. 295-304, (2016).  Doi: 10.2514/1.B35420

• Marren, D., Marineau, E., Yu, K., “Retooling the T&E Workforce: A Pilot Program to Re-invigorate the Hypersonic Workforce through a Novel Partnership with S&T,” The ITEA Journal of Test and Evaluation, Vol. 37(2), pp. 127-136, (2016).  ISSN: 1054-0229

• Aguilera, C., and Yu, K.H., “Supersonic Mixing Enhancement Using Fin-Guided Fuel Injection,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 31(6), pp. 1532-1543, (2015).  Doi: 10.2514/ 1.B35685

• Ryan, K.M., Lewis, M.J., and Yu, K.H., “Comparison of Robust Optimization Methods Applied to Hypersonic Vehicle Design,” AIAA Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 52(5), pp. 1510-1523, (2015).  Doi: 10.2514/ 1.C032986

Recent Conference Proceedings

• Burr, J., and Yu, K.H. “Mixing in Linear Detonation Channel with Discrete Injectors and Side Relief,” 57th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech 2019 Forum, San Diego, CA, AIAA-2019-1014, January (2019) DOI: 10.2514/6.2019-1014

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•  Redhal, S., Burr, J., and Yu, K.H., “Fuel Injection Dynamics and Detonation Wave Interaction in Rectangular Channel,” AIAA SciTech 2019 Forum, San Diego, CA, AIAA-2019-2251, January (2019) DOI: 10.2514/6.2019-2251 

• Juliano, J.D., Kurits, I., Burr, J.R., and Yu, K.H. “Temperature Sensitive Paint Response to Fluctuating/Decreasing Heating Loads in AEDC Tunnel 9,” AIAA SciTech 2019 Forum, San Diego, CA, AIAA-2019-2105, January (2019) DOI: 10.2514/6.2019-2105

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• Redhal, S., Burr, J., and Yu, K.H., “Fuel Injection, Mixing and Combustion in Model Rotating Detonation Engine,”22^ndAIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference; AIAA SPACE Forum, Orlando, FL, AIAA-2018-5200, September (2018) Doi: 10.2514/6.2018-5200

• Burr, J., and Yu, K.H., “Impulsively Started Ethylene-Oxygen Injection in Linear Channel Following Detonation Wave Passage,”54^thAIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference; AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum, Cincinnati, OH, AIAA-2018-4570, July (2018) Doi: 10.2514/6.2018-4570

• Burr, J.R., and Yu, K.H., “Detonation Wave Propagation in Discretely Spaced Hydrocarbon Cross-flow,” 56th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech Forum, Kissimmee, FL, AIAA-2018-1420, January (2018) Doi: 10.2514/6.2018-1420

• Aguilera, C., Ghosh, A., Shin, K., and Yu, K.H., “Dynamic Pressure Characterization of a Dual-Mode Scramjet,” 26thInternational Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems,” Boston, MA, ICDERS 2017-1157, July-August (2017)

• Park, S., Ghosh, A., and Yu, K.H., “Combustion Instability Prediction Using Minimal Experimental or Computational Data,” 26thInternational Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems,” Boston, MA, ICDERS 2017-1130, July-August (2017)

• Burr, J.R., and Yu, K.H., “Detonation Propagation in a Linear Channel with Discrete Injectors and Side Relief,” 26thInternational Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems,” Boston, MA, ICDERS 2017-1107, July-August (2017)

• Burr, J., and Yu, K.H., “Detonation Wave Propagation in Cross-Flow of Discretely Spaced Reactant Jets,”53rdAIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference; AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum, Atlanta, GA, AIAA-2017-4908, July (2017)

• Sedwick, R., Cadou, C., and Yu, K., “Propulsion Curriculum and Research in the Aerospace Engineering Department of the University of Maryland,”53rdAIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference; AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum, Atlanta, GA, AIAA-2017-4881, July (2017)

• Ghosh, A., and Yu, K.H., “Vortex Heat Release Model for a Laboratory Scale Dump Combustor,”53rdAIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference; AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum, Atlanta, GA, AIAA-2017-4896, July (2017)

• Schwer, D., Kailasanath, K.,  Burr, J., and Yu, K., “Simulations of the Linear Model Detonation Engine,” 10thU.S. National Combustion Meeting, College Park, MD, April (2017)

• Burr, J., Yu, K.H., Schwer, D., and Kailasanath, K. “Experiments in the Linear Model Detonation Engine,” 10thU.S. National Combustion Meeting, College Park, MD, April (2017)

• Fievisohn, R., and Yu, K.H. “Parametric Study of an Ethylene-Air Rotating Detonation Engine Using an Ideal Model,” 54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech, San Diego, CA, AIAA-2016-1403, January (2016) DOI: 10.2514/6.2016-1403

• Burr, J., and Yu, K.H. “Detonation Reignition within a Rotating Detonation Engine,” 54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech, San Diego, CA, AIAA-2016-1202, January (2016) DOI: 10.2514/6.2016-1202

• Geerts, J., and Yu, K.H. “Three-Dimensional Nature of Shock Trains in Rectangular Scramjet Isolators,” 54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA SciTech, San Diego, CA, AIAA-2016-1164, January (2016) DOI: 10.2514/6.2016-1164

• Burr, J., and Yu, K.H. “Detonation Structure in an Unwrapped Rotating Detonation Engine,” 22nd International Symposium on Air Breathing Engines, Phoenix, AZ, ISABE-2015-20237, October (2015)

• Geerts, J., and Yu, K.H., “Accounting for Corner Flow Separation in Rectangular Scramjet Isolator Shock Train Length Estimation”,  22nd International Symposium on Air Breathing Engines, Phoenix, AZ, ISABE2015-20231, October 2015

• Burr, J., and Yu, K.H. “Shock in Reactive Crossflow under Partial Confinement,” 25th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Reeds, UK, Paper No. 230, August (2015)

• Fievisohn, R., and Yu, K.H. “Method of Characteristic Analysis of Gaseous Detonations Bounded by an Inert Gas,” 25th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Reeds, UK, Paper No. 200, August (2015)

• Geerts, J., and Yu, K.H. “Corner Flow Separation from Shock Train/Turbulent Boundary-Layer Interactions in Rectangular Isolators,” 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Glasgow, UK, AIAA-2015-3546, July (2015)

• Fievisohn, R., and Yu, K.H. “Quasi-Steady Modeling of Rotating Detonation Engine Flowfields,” 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Glasgow, UK, AIAA-2015-3616, July (2015)

• Knittel, J.M., Lewis, M.J., and Yu, K.H. “Aero-Gravity Assist Mission Design,” 25th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Williamsburg, VA, AAS 15-428, January (2015)

• Geerts, J., and Yu, K.H. “Application of Focusing Schlieren Deflectometry Velocimeter to an Isolator Shock Train,” AIAA Sci-Tech 2015, 53rd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Kissimmee, FL, AIAA-2015-1486, January (2015)

• Fievisohn, R., and Yu, K.H. “Method of Characteristic Analysis of the Internal Flowfield in a Rotating Detonation Engine,” AIAA Sci-Tech 2015, 53rd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Kissimmee, FL, AIAA-2015-0881, January (2015)