We seek to understand the coupled physics and chemistry of combustion through complementary experimental and analytical approaches. Our research program covers a wide range of topics; from the fundamental exploration of turbulence-chemistry interactions to the development of advanced combustion technologies for liquid rocket engines. The group also maintains a continuous effort in the advancement of high-bandwidth (typically, laser-based) measurement techniques to non-intrusively probe the physics of these complex, reacting flows. Our work has been funded by government as well as private sources, a sample of which is represented below.
Our laboratory is housed within the Zucrow Laboratory complex. The high pressure, high flow-rate system capabilities enable experimental replication of the flame conditions (pressure, turbulence level, thermal power density) found in today's most advanced propulsion and energy systems. In addition to our academic endeavors, we also work with industrial sponsors on testing programs to characterize and advance the performance of propulsion systems such as rockets, gas turbines, (sc)ramjets, and rotating detonation engines.
Principal Investigator
Senior Research Engineer
Test Engineer
Senior Laboratory Technician
PhD Student
PhD Candidate
PhD Student, CALSPAN Fellow
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
MS Student
MS Student
PhD Candidate
PhD Student, NSF Fellow
PhD Candidate
MS Student
PhD Student
PhD Candidate
MS Student
PhD Student, NSTGRO Fellow
PhD Student
PhD Student, Doctoral Fellow
PhD Candidate
PhD Student
Undergraduate RA
Undergraduate RA
The Purdue University Zucrow Laboratories have a longstanding history of large-scale experimental capabilities. Originally built for rocket testing in the 1940s, the lab underwent a transformation to support air-breathing experiments in the late 1960s. The High-Pressure Combustion Laboratory (ZL8) was completed in 2017, and features five state-of-the-art 500 ft2 test cells and an adjacent 2200 ft2 diagnostics lab. The High-Speed Propulsion Laboratory (ZL9) is a newly completed $73M, 60,000 ft2 facility which adds five new test cells and significantly expanded the high-pressure, high-flow-rate fluid system infrastructure throughout the Zucrow complex. Both facilities were designed with access windows connecting the test cells to the diagnostics laboratories, allowing a full-host of advanced laser-based techniques to be applied in the most complex flows. Electronics fabrication and mechanical assembly rooms are fully-equipped with tools and equipment, as well as technical staff members to aid researchers. The laboratory has a dedicated staff of fabrication specialists for mechanical and electrical assemblies, multiple full-time engineers with expertise in both high-pressure combustion and energetic materials, secretarial assistance, a facilities manager, and business office staff. The university also provides environmental health and safety support staff. The PI, staff, and graduate students have office space at the laboratory and also access to high-performance computing in Purdue University research centers. The ZL8 and ZL9 facilities are uniquely capable of supporting this combination of experimental research with advanced diagnostic technique development.
Below are a few examples from our ongoing work in three principal areas: (1) High-Speed Airbreathing Propulsion, (2) Space Propulsion, and (3) Aviation Propulsion. Click on an image for a brief description and a list of selected publications. For a complete list of publications, please refer to the PI's Google Scholar page.