On the Design of Pulse Detonation Engines

Chao, T. W. and Wintenberger, E. and Shepherd, J. E. (2001) On the Design of Pulse Detonation Engines. Technical Report. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA.

Full text available as:

PDF - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF viewer.

Abstract

This report addresses some basic issues in the structural and performance aspects of Pulse Detonation Engines (PDEs). Performance parameters studied include thrust-specific-fuel-consumption (TSFC), frequency limits, and thrust-to-weight ratio. A design surface is developed that accounts for various design limits. The structural aspects deal with critical parameters, material properties, and phenomena such as engine geometry, mass, yield stress, structural resonance due to flexural wave excitation, critical flaw size, and fracture toughness. Four materials for PDEs were chosen for comparison: silicon nitride, inconel, steel, and aluminum. Estimates of wall thickness and thrust-to-weight ratio are given over a range of operating conditions. Key issues and areas for further work are identified for both propulsion and performance aspects.

EPrint Type:	Monograph (Technical Report)
Additional Information:	Prepared for General Electric, contract GE-PO A02 81655 under DABT-63-0-0001.
Subjects:	All Records
ID Code:	32
Deposited By:	Caltech Library System
Deposited On:	25 May 2005
Record Number:	CaltechGALCITFM:2000.007
Official Persistent URL:	http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechGALCITFM:2000.007
Usage Policy:	You are granted permission for individual, educational, research and non-commercial reproduction, distribution, display and performance of this work in any format.

Archive Staff Only: edit this record