Daniel Tillie Timothy Leaver Brian McFadden

...................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .............................................................................................. v GLOSSARY....................................................................................................................... vi 1.0 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................... 1 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF PULSE DETONATION............................................................... 2 2.1. The Beginnings ...................................................................................................... 2 2.2. Classifications ........................................................................................................ 2 2.3. Description ............................................................................................................. 3 2.3.1. Detonation Versus Deflagrations ................................................................ 3 2.3.2. Wave Cycle ................................................................................................. 3 3.0 ADVANTAGES OF PULSE DETONATION PROPULSION.................................... 5 3.1. Mechanical Design Simplicity ............................................................................... 5 3.2. Thermodynamic Efficiency.................................................................................... 6 4.0 APPLICATIONS OF PULSE DETONATION PROPULSION .................................. 9 4.1. Applications to In-Atmosphere Flight ................................................................... 9 4.1.1. Hybrid Pulse Detonation ............................................................................. 9 4.1.2. Pure Pulse Detonation ............................................................................... 10 4.1.3. Combined-Cycle Pulse Detonation ........................................................... 11 4.2. Applications to Space Flight ................................................................................ 11 5.0 PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH PULSE DETONATION TECHNOLOGY WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS................................................................................ 12 5.1. Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT) ..................................................... 12 5.1.1. Mechanically Valved Operation................................................................ 12 5.1.2. Aerodynamically Valved Operation.......................................................... 13 5.2. Physical Environment .......................................................................................... 13 6.0 CONCLUSIONS......................................................................................................... 16 APPENDIX A: HOOP STRESS CALCULATION.......................................................... 17 APPENDIX B: INTERVIEW WITH DR. ROGER REED – NOTES ............................. 19 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................. 20