AIRBREATHING PROPULSION SUBCOMMITTEE

The JANNAF 40th Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee sessions will discuss technical problems and issues associated with airbreathing propulsion systems for applications to missiles, launch vehicles, aerospace planes, and remotely piloted vehicles. These include technology, components, and engines within the turbojet, ramjet, scramjet, and combined cycle families. Session topics may include characterization of system performance, engine cycle analysis and testing, engine design, engine/airframe integration, thermal management, fluid and structural mechanics, advanced engine structures and materials, fuel control systems, and characterization of advanced airbreathing fuels.

APS Mission Areas

Areas of interest included in the Call for Papers are:

Mission Area I: Turbopropulsion

Basic Technology and System Applications: Turbopropulsion technologies related to missiles, drones, and UAV systems for both subsonic and supersonic mission applications. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: innovative architectures, performance and operability, system integration, fuels, structures, materials and manufacturing, controls, thermal management, modeling and simulation, component level testing, ground/flight test experiments, and system-level assessments. Papers in this mission area will be considered for joint APS/CS sessions.


Mission Area II: Ramjet Propulsion

Ramjets: Welcome are papers describing either experimental or theoretical studies related to solid, liquid, and gaseous (ducted rocket) fueled ramjet systems or the constituents thereof. Authors are welcome to submit papers addressing ramjet and ducted rocket technologies at the component, section, or system level. By example, topics at the component level include techniques for mixing enhancement, active and passive control, plume signature reduction, instability, and testing techniques. Papers describing modeling and simulation studies of ramjets or their subcomponents are encouraged. Fuel development for subsonic, air-breathing applications continues to be an active area of research within the ramjet propulsion mission area.

Mode Transition: Papers that address mode transition either to or from that of conventional ramjet operation, e.g., boost to conventional ramjet or subsonic to supersonic combustion are welcome. Papers should emphasize the technology that assists in this transition.

Technologies with a Ramjet Application: Authors are encouraged to submit papers that address technologies applicable to ramjet systems, e.g., manufacturing technologies and fabrication techniques, etcetera. Papers need not be associated with a particular system but should be applicable to materials associated with such vehicles and their corresponding flight environment.


Mission Area III: Scramjet Propulsion

Fundamental and Applied Technology for integrated dual-mode and supersonic-combustion scramjets, components, and subsystems:

  • Numerical methods for design, analysis, optimization, uncertainty quantification, and performance assessment, to include CFD, cycle analysis codes, and empirical methodologies.
  • Experimental ground and flight tests of scramjet propulsion systems, test facilities and/or infrastructure, including test techniques and advanced measurement systems.
  • Techniques and methodologies addressing propulsion system controls, thermal management and their impacts on scramjet operability and performance.

Some papers in this area will be considered for joint APS/CS sessions.

Specialist Session
Hypersonic R&D Overview: Abstracts are requested for an overview session reviewing current activities in hypersonic R&D. Technical papers are not required but may be submitted in addition to the presentations.


Mission Area IV: Combined / Advanced Cycle Propulsion

Fundamental and Applied Technology: Combined and advanced cycle airbreathing propulsion and engine controls technology and systems. Of particular interest is numerical and experimental research regarding: 1) Aerodynamic, thermodynamic, and structural integration of multiple propulsive cycles and the manner of mode transition between cycles; 2) Methods of broadening the flight Mach number range of gas turbine and dual-mode ramjet cycles to facilitate mode transition; 3) Exploration of airbreathing cycles other than the Brayton cycle; and 4) System-level evaluations to include the choice of fuels, propulsion-airframe integration, and payoff assessments. Papers in this mission area will be considered for joint APS/CS sessions.


Mission Area V: Integrated Vehicle Design and Analysis

  • Integrated Vehicle Design: Requesting papers on vehicle designs focused on integrated vehicle performance, trades, and mission applications. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: vehicle designs, design methodologies, tools, systems integration, subsystem design, and trades/case studies. Additional topics of interest include system/vehicle level thermal management and subsystem design integration. Papers are specifically requested on high-speed airbreathing system design; however, papers on non-airbreathing high-speed vehicles are also welcome. Government only presentations are not desired; however, will be accommodated as needed to protect proprietary design concerns.

  • Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design Optimization: Requesting papers on high-speed multidisciplinary analysis and design optimization. Specific topics of interest include, but are not limited to: non-deterministic design approaches, shape optimization, open design framework development, sensitivity/uncertainty analysis, metamodeling, and advances in analysis methods/approaches to reduce design-cycle time. Integrated vehicle and/or subcomponent design optimization and analysis approaches that focus on improving vehicle-level performance in a multidisciplinary framework are highly encouraged.

  • Structural Concepts and Airframe/Engine Integration: Structural technologies for enhancing and enabling current and future airbreathing propulsion concepts and systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: TPS and hot structures; structural solutions and technologies related to thermal management, including actively and passively cooled leading edge concepts; general design and analysis methods; considerations for structural joints and seals, specifically for multi-material interfaces. Papers are specifically requested which focus upon airframe/engine integration concepts and techniques from a system-level perspective.

  • Material Development, Fabrication and Manufacturability: Papers are requested that emphasize manufacturing technologies and fabrication techniques. Papers need not be associated with a particular high-speed vehicle system but should be applicable to materials associated with vehicles operating in a high-speed flight environment. Papers on additive manufacturing applicable to scramjets are particularly encouraged. Papers addressing material characterization should make specific reference to intended use cases within a structural concept/component, challenges associated with the eventual integration into a structural system, and anticipated thermal and mechanical loading conditions under intended operating conditions. Papers on materials incorporated in recent or current high-speed flight vehicles are encouraged.

  • Multi-Physics Analysis and Experimentation: Papers are requested which emphasize numerical frameworks and/or experimental investigations of compliant structures operating in extreme environments - with respect to both aerothermal and mechanical loading conditions. Papers addressing the challenges arising from integration of a structural component into a structural system are encouraged. Papers are sought which address the coupled interactions between structural deformations and a relevant loading environment. Specific focus should be on the impact of the multi-physics interactions on vehicle performance with respect to specific criteria, such as trajectory/mission requirements - Mach, range, thrust, etc. - or strength and serviceability requirements and useable service life.

  • High-Temperature/Extreme Environment Experimental Techniques: Papers are sought which address innovative testing/experimental techniques for use in high-temperature/extreme environment testing regimes. Of specific interest are non-contacting, full-field data acquisition techniques which can be developed and utilized for the generation of validation-quality data sets for this challenging class of problems. Techniques for use in laboratory settings, ground test facilities, as well as those which can potentially be included on flight test vehicles are encouraged.

JHU WSE ERG Technical Representative

For questions related to this subcommittee and its mission areas, please contact:

Ms. Claire Shamul, JHU WSE ERG / Columbia, MD
Telephone:  (443) 718-5011
Email:          cshamul@erg.jhu.edu