Purdue Energetics Research Center
PERC Mission Statement
To drive the field of energetic materials forward through our ideas, our students, and our partnerships.
Research
Synthesis & Fabrication
Synthesis and Fabrication activities of the pre-eminent team are aimed at creating tailored energetic materials. Improved performance, sensitivity, toxicity and lifetime are key drivers for these new materials. We are also interested in developing disruptive materials that are tunable, switchable, and multi-functional. Both top-down and bottom-up fabrication approaches are being explored. These include additive manufacturing methods, nanoscale encapsulation, and high energy ball mill mechanical activation methods. We also hope to extend this to both chemical synthesis and cocrystallization at Purdue. Applications include all areas of energetic materials and include advanced propellants, enhanced explosives and novel pyrotechnics.
Diagnostics and Characterization
Diagnostic and Characterization efforts are primarily aimed at improving our ability to study energetic materials during dynamic events. A variety of laser-spectroscopy and imaging techniques spanning the UV to the far-IR are currently being developed and applied to study propellant flames, explosions and detonations, shock impact, and electromagnetic stimulation. These efforts employ ultrafast-, burst-mode-, hyperspectral-, and wavelength-modulation-spectroscopy techniques, as well as high-speed and ballistic imaging to provide non-intrusive, time-resolved measurements of chemical species, temperature, pressure, and velocity. In addition, X-ray techniques for imaging optically dense, multi-phase processes are also of interest. A combination of commercial and custom-built light sources and imaging platforms are currently being used to extend such measurements to: additional chemical species, multiple dimensions (2D to 4D), shorter timescales, and increasingly hostile and optically dense environments.
Drop-weight towers, Kolsky bars and gas guns are used to apply dynamic loads on the energetic materials to be characterized, optical and x-ray high-speed imaging techniques are used to determine the dynamic deformation and damaging processes in the energetic materials under impact. To identify the formation of hot spots, temperature field associated with the deformation and damage is measured with a new 2D topographical temperature measurement method using the laser-induced phosphorescence.
Detection and Defeat
Detection and Defeat activities of the pre-eminent team are focused generally on interdiction of terrorists and improvised explosive devices. Improved materials and methods are being developed for better detection of explosives residues at security checkpoints using contact sampling methods. These approaches involve understanding the adhesion and mechanics of explosives, as well as the development of novel materials with optimized properties for explosives harvesting. In addition, standoff methods for detecting and defeating explosives are of great interest. These methods involve the application of novel MEMS technology for recognition of explosive vapors, and the development of directed energy methods for inducing deflagration within explosives and for detecting explosives residues in the vapor phase and on surfaces.
The Purdue Energetics Research Center (PERC) is an interdisciplinary team with an overriding focus on comprehensive energetic materials research "from molecules to munitions." PERC addresses existing and emerging explosives-based needs for civilian and military infrastructure, commerce and aviation. It also supports the U.S. need for more stable, less sensitive and more easily processed energetic materials including propellants, pyrotechnics and in ordnance. PERC has enjoyed support from nearly every agency within the U.S. defense sector.
Faculty, Staff & Students





































Steve Beaudoin
Caralyn Coultas-Mckenney
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Dec, 2022
Project/Thesis: The Enhanced Centrifuge Method for Evaluating Topographical Effects on Adhesion of Explosives Powders
Tyler Roberts
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2025
Project/Thesis: Effects of Material Properties on Adhesive Interactions in Additively Manufactured Energetic Materials
Co-Advisor: Chelsea Davis
Sydney Scheirey
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2023
Project/Thesis: Effects of Crosslinking Agents and Adhesion Modifiers on Additively Manufactured Thermite
Co-Advisor: Jeff Rhoads
Michael Stevenson
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Dec, 2022
Project/Thesis: Measuring van der Waals Adhesion Forces of Compounded Energetics Using Non-Contact Atomic Force Microscopy
Co-Advisor: David Corti
Aaron Woeppel
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2023
Project/Thesis: Engineered Macromolecules for Detection of Trace Explosives Residues Co-Advisor: Bryan Boudouris
Bryan Boudouris
Aaron Woeppel
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2023
Project/Thesis: Engineered Macromolecules for Detection of Trace Explosives Residues
Co-Advisor: Steve Beaudoin
Wayne Chen
Kerry-Ann Stirrup
School: Materials Engineering
Expected Graduation: Dec, 2023
Project/Thesis: Deformation of Polymer Bonded Explosives
Chris Goldenstein
Rebekah (Bekah) Travis
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2027
Project/Thesis: TBD
Co-advisor: Steve Son
Nathan Hartman
Chris Copeland
School: Environmental and Ecological Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2024
Project/Thesis: Supply chain security modeling and optimization
Hilkka Kenttamaa
Caroline Rowell
School: Department of Chemistry
Expected Graduation: 2024
Project/Thesis: Chemical reactions in hypergolic propellants
Marisol Koslowski
Chongxi Yuan
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2024
Project/Thesis: Modeling of hot spots in solids under shock compression
Diane Patterson
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2024
Project/Thesis: Mesoscale modeling of detonation in PBX
Monique McClain
Mitchell Donoughue
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2026
Project/Thesis: Dissimilar material printing: co-printing thermoplastic filaments with composite propellants
Anna Keim
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2026
Project/Thesis Title: Anomaly detection in extrusion-based additive manufacturing
Joshua Anderson
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Expected Graduation: Spring 2024
Project/Thesis: TBD
Co-Advisor: Nicole Key
James Plotzke
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
Project/Thesis: Manufacturing and characterization of multi-formulation composite propellants
Terry Meyer
Christopher Crabtree
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2023
Project/Thesis: Developing Pulsed Laser Imaging Techniques for Explosive Event Analysis
Co-Advisor: Mikhail Slipchenko
Josh Ludwigsen
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2023
Project/Thesis: Application of pulse burst laser diagnostics for measurement of high speed reacting flows
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Sahaj Patel
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Expected Graduation: Aug, 2023
Project/Thesis: Advancement of Solid-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engines
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Peter Salek
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Expected Graduation: Aug, 2023
Project/Thesis: Advancement of Solid-Fueled Rotating Detonation Engines
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Austin Webb
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Dec, 2023
Project/Thesis: Developing Pulsed Laser Imaging Techniques for Explosive Event Analysis
Zoltan Nagy
Monika Neal
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2026
Project/Thesis: Holistic Approach for Process Intensification of Energetic Materials Crystallization
Montgomery Smith
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Summer, 2024
Project/Thesis Title: Process Intensification of Novel Energetics Crystallization via Quality-by-Control Direct Design Approaches
Davin Piercey
Shannon Creegan
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2023
Angelique Klimek
School: Chemical Engineering
Michael Thoenen
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Dominique Wozniak
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2023
Joseph Yount
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Jake Zuckerman
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Brett Savoie
Dylan Fortney
School: Chemical Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2026
Project/Thesis: Tuning the Viscoelastic Properties of Conductive Binders
Steve Son
Aaron AFRIAT
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Dec, 2022
Project/Thesis: Additive manufacturing and of energetic materials Project/Thesis Title: Additive manufacturing and combustion characterization of high energy, low-solvent gun propellants
Mitchell Ferrel
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: TBD
Project/Thesis: Embedded Reactive and Inert Wires in Propellants
Thomas Hafner
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Aug, 2023
Project/Thesis: The Application of Piezoelectricity and Flexoelectricity to Energetic Materials
Caleb Harper
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2025
Project/Thesis: High-Energy-Density Fuels
Josh Ludwigsen
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2023
Project/Thesis: Application of pulse burst laser diagnostics for measurement of high speed reacting flows
Co-Advisor: Terry Meyer
Ryan Merrell
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2023
Project/Thesis: Novel Metallized Fuels for Solid Fuel Ramjets
Derek Messer
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Jan, 2023
Project/Thesis: Fabrication of multifunctional energetic materials utilyzing piezoelectricity
Kyle Uhlenhake
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May 2023
Project/Thesis: Flash Ignition of Energetic Materials
John Sutherland
Postdoc: Matthew Triebe
School: Environmental and Ecological Engineering
Project/Thesis: Advancing Army Modernization Priorities through Collaborative Energetic Materials Research
Song Zhang
Jack Girard
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: Dec, 2022
Project/Thesis: TBD
William Keller
School: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation: May, 2026
Project/Thesis: TBD
David Bahr
Alexandra Burch
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Graduated: May, 2020
Project/Thesis: Small scale testing to assess mechanical behavior of anisotropic molecular crystals
Matthew Taw
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Graduated: Dec 2017
Project/Thesis: “Linking Nanoscale Mechanical Behavior To Bulk Physical Properties And Phenomena Of Energetic Materials
Steve Beaudoin
Patrick Bowers
School: Chemical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: Effects of Binder Mechanical and Interfacial Properties on Additively Manufactured Energetics
Co-Advisor: Jeff Rhoads
Andrew Parker
School: Chemical Engineering
Graduated: Dec, 2020
Project/Thesis: Effects of Polymers on Crystallization of Pharmacological Active Ingredients from the Melt
Jason Wickham
School: Chemical Engineering
Graduated: Dec, 2020
Project/Thesis: Effects of Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Compounded Explosives on Their Sensitivity
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Bryan Boudouris
Darby Hoss
School: Chemical Engineering
Graduated: Aug, 2017
Project/Thesis: Adhesion Characterization to Improve Trace Explosives Detection Using Mesostructured Polymers
Co-Advisor: Steve Beaudoin
Jennifer Laster
School: Chemical Engineering
Graduated: Dec, 2017
Project/Thesis: Design of Microstructured Conducting Polymer Films for Enhanced Trace Explosives Detection
Co-Advisor: Steve Beaudoin
Sally Bane
Tyler Graziano
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: 2016
Project/Thesis: Development of Combustion Tube for Gaseous, Liquid, and Solid Fuels to Study Flame Acceleration and DDT
Angela Mbugua
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: 2019
Project/Thesis: Characterization of Ignition and Combustion of Nitromethane and Isopropyl Nitrate Monopropellant Droplets
Steven Stoot
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: 2015
Project/Thesis: Combustion Characteristics of Hypergolic Microdroplets
Prashanth Bangalore Venkatesh
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: 2019
Project/Thesis: High Pressure Combustion in C2H4/N2O Mixtures Leading to Detonations and its Applications
Wayne Chen
Benjamin Claus
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: Dec, 2018
Project/Thesis: Controlling Dynamic Torsion Loading
Jonathan Drake
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: May, 2020
Project/Thesis: Dynamic Response of Polymer Bonded Explosives under Impact Loading
Zherui Guo
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: May, 2020
Project/Thesis: Design Optimization of Multi-ply Soft Armor Targets Based on Failure Modes under Projectile Normal Impact
Michael Harr
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: May 2017
Project/Thesis: Hot-spot Formation in PBX under Impact Loading
Nesredin Kedir
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Graduated: Dec, 2020
Project/Thesis: Particle Impact Damage on Coated Structure
Nicholas Kerschen
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2018
Project/Thesis: Response of PBX under Shock Loading
Cody Kirk
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: May, 2022
Project/Thesis: Response of Liquid Energetic Materials under High-speed Impact
Amelia Leenig
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Graduated: July, 2020
Project/Thesis: Effects of Defects on the Damage and Failure of Energetic Materials under Dynamic Loading
Naranjan Parab
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: May, 2017
Project/Thesis: Fracture of Spherical Particles under Compression
Shane Paulson
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: Mechanisms of Dynamic Interlaminar Delamination in Fiber-reinforced Composites
Andrew Roginski
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: Dec, 2021
Project/Thesis: Impact Response of Polymer Bonded Explosives at elevated temperatures
Chris Goldenstein
Garrett C. Mathews
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: High-speed laser-absorption diagnostics for temperature and species measurements in combustion gases of propellants and explosives
Morgan Ruesch
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Characterization of the flame structure of composite solid rocket propellants using laser diagnostics
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Ryan J. Tancin
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Ultrafast laser-absorption spectroscopy in the mid-infrared for spatiotemporally resolved measurements of gas properties
Marisol Koslowski
Camilo A. Duarte
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Continuum modeling of fracture and plastic deformation in HMX single crystals under shock compression
Terry Meyer
Amanda Braun
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2022
Project/Thesis: High-Speed Burst-Mode Laser Diagnostics in Post-Detonation Fireballs
Alex Brown
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2022
Co-advisor: Steve Son
Project/Thesis Title: Laser Diagnostics for Species and Temperature in Explosive Fireballs
Diane Collard
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Additively manufactured reactive components in composite propellant
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Mateo Gomez-Gomez
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Advanced diagnostics in detonations and multiphase environments
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Patrick B. Moore
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: Thermographic Nanophosphors
Co-Advisor: Steve Son
Davin Piercey
Matthew Gettings
School: Materials Science and Engineering
Graduated: 2021
Steve Son
Julie Bach
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: Study on modifying the pressure time history of additively-manufactured gun propellant using infill parameters
Michael Baier
Christian Blum-Sorensen
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: Aug, 2021
Project/Thesis: Hot Spots & and explosives initiation, finding the right spark
Alex Brown
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2022
Co-advisor: Dr. Terrence Meyer
Project/Thesis Title: Laser Diagnostics for Species and Temperature in Explosive Fireballs
Wesley Chapman
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2022
Project/Thesis: Additive manufacturing of energetic sensors
Kate Clements
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2020
Project/Thesis: An Experimental Study of Factors Affecting Hypergolic Ignition of Ammonia Borane
Diane Collard
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Additively manufactured reactive components in composite propellant
Co-Advisor: Terry Meyer
Nick Cummock
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: The change of impact and shock sensitivity due to thermal damage and phase transition in HMX systems
Josh Dean
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2020
Project/Thesis: The Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition and Hot-Stage Microscopy of Selected Energetic Cocrystals
Spencer Fehlberg
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2020
Project/Thesis: Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate Encapsulated Nanoscale and Micron-scale Catalyst Particles
Mateo Gomez
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Advanced diagnostics in detonations and multiphase environments
Co-Advisor: Terry Meyer
Brandon Montano
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: Characterization of vibration assisted printer for the additive manufacturing of energetic materials
Patrick B. Moore
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: Thermographic Nanophosphors
Co-Advisor: Terry Meyer
Shane Oatman
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2024
Project/Thesis: TBD
Michael Powell
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: May, 2020
Project/Thesis: Ultrafast Broadband Midinfrared Absorption Spectroscopy On Shocked Energetic Materials
Morgan Ruesch
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: May, 2021
Project/Thesis: Characterization of the flame structure of composite solid rocket propellants using laser diagnostics
Co-Advisor: Chris Goldenstein
Ryan J. Tancin
School: Aeronautics and Astronautics
Graduated: 2021
Project/Thesis: Ultrafast laser-absorption spectroscopy in the mid-infrared for spatiotemporally resolved measurements of gas properties
Eric Westphal
School: Mechanical Engineering
Graduated: Fall 2022
Project/Thesis: X-ray and laser-based phosphor thermometry measurements and their application toward reacting energetic materials
Co-Advisor: Terry Meyer
Jason Wickham
School: Chemical Engineering
Graduated: Dec, 2020
Project/Thesis: Effects of Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Compounded Explosives on Their Sensitivity
Co-Advisor: Steve Beaudoin
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