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SUMMARY:Aerothermodynamic Layout of a Scramjet Propulsion System for Space
  Transportation Systems: The Research Group GRK1095/1 - Structure and Achi
 evements - Marius Banica (University of Stuttgart)
DTSTART:20081205T120000Z
DTEND:20081205T130000Z
UID:TALK13457@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Carlo Quaglia
DESCRIPTION:Today's propulsion systems rely on propellers\, turbofans or t
 urbojets for planes and on rocket propulsion for space transportation syst
 ems. The problem with the latter is the need to carry the oxidizer on boar
 d\, which significantly decreases payload fractions. Alternatively\, it is
  possible to design a space transportation system using an air-breathing p
 lane-type first stage and a rocket-type second stage but this would requir
 e the first stage to achieve sufficiently high Mach numbers (approx. 8-15)
 . Unfortunately\, turbojet engines become inefficient at Mach numbers high
 er than approximately three. One possibility is to switch to ramjet engine
 s at these speeds. In ramjet engines\, compression is provided by compress
 ion ramps at the intake of the engine and the air is decelerated to subson
 ic speeds. This eliminates the need for rotating machinery. Combustion the
 n takes place under subsonic conditions inside the engine. For Mach number
 s higher than approximately five\, ramjet engines become inefficient\, how
 ever\, since the stagnation pressure losses associated with a deceleration
  to subsonic speeds are large and static temperatures become prohibitively
  high. To eliminate this problem\, the flow can be maintained at supersoni
 c speeds. Such an engine is called a supersonic combustion ramjet or scram
 jet. Even though research on these types of engines has been going on for 
 several decades\, the technical problems associated with designing an oper
 able system remain tremendous. Problems include high static temperature\, 
 obtaining positive thrust\, flight control\, maintaining a stable combusti
 on\, material fatigue and others. Nevertheless\, such engines have great p
 otential for significantly reducing costs for space access\, reduce travel
  times between distant locations and have a large range of military applic
 ations. The project GRK1095/1 is a national civilian research effort that 
 aims at designing a scramjet powered space transportation system. The prog
 ram is distributed among three German universities and the German Aerospac
 e Center (DLR). In addition\, there are associated members in several Euro
 pean countries. This talk discusses the project GRK1095/1 and will highlig
 ht its structure and achievements since its start in the year 2004. In add
 ition\, more general problems of scramjet engine design will be outlined.
LOCATION:Hopkinson Meeting Room\, Engineering Department
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