What Type of Research Am I Interested In?
With top-tier faculty and world-class energetics research facilities found nowhere else on earth, you're sure to find a place for your passion. Whichever area of study you choose, be sure to list PERC and specific faculty you are interested in working with on your application materials.
Find a faculty member you want to work with in these research areas:
Chemical Synthesis and Formulation involve creating tailored energetic materials for applications like advanced propellants, enhanced explosives and novel pyrotechnics.
- Nanoscale composite energetic materials
- Particles and powders
- Propulsion
- Advanced energetic materials
- novel pyrotechnics
- Novel, disruptive materials that are tunable, switchable, and multi- functional
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (AI/ML), and Computer Modeling utilize advanced computational programs to predict, analyze, and improve energetic materials and their applications.
- Advancement of next-generation propulsion concepts including Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs), Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines (RDREs) and Scramjet Engines
- Estimation of performance, efficiency and emissions using state of the art optical diagnostics (PLIF, CARS, TP-LIF, PIV, 3D Imaging, X-Rays, PIV, Molecular Tagging, Thermographic Phosphors and Pressure Sensitive Paints)
- Thermal-fluid behavior at the extremes, including turbulent, acoustically coupled, high-temperature, high-pressure, multiphase, and non-equilibrium reacting flows
- Laser and high-speed imaging diagnostics to capture and measure energetic materials - explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics - as they move and transform, providing the crucial insights needed to develop efficient, next-generation fuels and propulsion systems
Advanced manufacturing techniques including new and novel manufacturing processes to open opportunities for applications in propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics
- 3D printing and dissimilar material 3D printing
- Additive manufacturing of energetic materials
- Increased control of and reliability in the properties of energetic materials, from improved adhesion to precision sizing and shaping
- Predictive, multi-scale modeling and simulation of microstructure evolution in confined granular systems, with an emphasis in manufacturing processes and the relationship between product fabrication and performance.
- Particulate products and processes (e.g., flow, mixing, segregation, consolidation, and compaction of powders),
- Continuous manufacturing (e.g., Quality by Design, model predictive control, and reduced order models),
- Directed energy deposition, continuous flow synthesis, continuous flow crystallization, and semi-continuous mixing
- Micro and Nanotechnology
Diagnostics and Characterization of Enegetic Materials at PERC is primarily aimed at improving our ability to study energetic materials during dynamic events.
- Laser absorption spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence, & IR imaging sensors for gas temperature, pressure, velocity, and chemical species
- Molecular spectroscopy, photophysics, & energy transfer in gases
- Energetic materials (e.g., explosives & propellants) detection & combustion
- Combustion and propulsion systems (small and large scale)
- Deformation and heat generation under quasi-static, near-resonant and impact conditions, and formation and growth of hot spots in energetic materials
- Multiphase combustion, particularly related to propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics
- Microscale combustion
- Laser diagnostics development for applied thermal environments including RDEs, RDREs, gas-turbines, rockets, IC engines, and scramjet engines
- Laser Diagnostics and Spectroscopy for detonations, combustion, sprays, energetics, propellants, hypersonics, plasmas, and non-equilibrium flows
- Using digital holography and imaging pyrometry, to capture three- dimensional images of highly reactive particles and measures their characteristics such as size, velocity and temperature distribution as they are in motion
