Minimizing hypersonic skin-friction by boundary-layer combustion. The high drag associated with hypersonic flight has been a major obstacle to development of hypersonic aircraft. It is generally accepted that half the drag of hypersonic vehicles will be caused by air friction on the aircraft's skin, due mainly to the turbulent boundary layer which forms on the skin. However, a new method of reducing skin friction, by injecting and burning fuel in the boundary layer, has been discovered. This ....Minimizing hypersonic skin-friction by boundary-layer combustion. The high drag associated with hypersonic flight has been a major obstacle to development of hypersonic aircraft. It is generally accepted that half the drag of hypersonic vehicles will be caused by air friction on the aircraft's skin, due mainly to the turbulent boundary layer which forms on the skin. However, a new method of reducing skin friction, by injecting and burning fuel in the boundary layer, has been discovered. This project is aimed at investigating the range of conditions under which this method will be effective. By this boundary-layer "lubrication" much more efficient hypersonic flight will be possible.Read moreRead less
Enhancing scramjet performance by boundary layer combustion. Australia has developed a strong international reputation over the past 20 years for excellence in research into hypersonic flight technologies. This helps to reinforce the fact that this is a country in which advanced technologies can be conceived and developed. Australian companies and agencies are already collaborating with and are being supported by international organizations to develop further hypersonic flight technologies. Achi ....Enhancing scramjet performance by boundary layer combustion. Australia has developed a strong international reputation over the past 20 years for excellence in research into hypersonic flight technologies. This helps to reinforce the fact that this is a country in which advanced technologies can be conceived and developed. Australian companies and agencies are already collaborating with and are being supported by international organizations to develop further hypersonic flight technologies. Achieving another significant advance in this area by demonstrating significant reductions in frictional drag on hypersonic vehicles will keep us at the forefront of this field and lead to continued international support and collaboration.Read moreRead less
Radiation and Ablation in Rapidly Expanding Flows. The aim of the project is to record the spectra of radiation from a region of rapidly expanding flow representative of the passage of the shock layer on a re-entry capsule from the windward to the leeward surfaces. The significance of this work is that it addresses a critical area of spacecraft where the uncertainties of our design techniques are of the order of 300 per cent in terms of surface heat transfer, and current vehicles have to use lar ....Radiation and Ablation in Rapidly Expanding Flows. The aim of the project is to record the spectra of radiation from a region of rapidly expanding flow representative of the passage of the shock layer on a re-entry capsule from the windward to the leeward surfaces. The significance of this work is that it addresses a critical area of spacecraft where the uncertainties of our design techniques are of the order of 300 per cent in terms of surface heat transfer, and current vehicles have to use large safety factors to ensure survivability. The outputs from the project will be a data base of radiative parameters which should enable accurate models of the flow to be developed, which is expected to facilitate the design of advanced spacecraft with greater safety and reliability, and with lower structural mass.Read moreRead less
Rapid Determination of Earthquake Sources in Australia. The Australasian region is at risk from both large earthquakes and tsunamis. Rapid and reliable determination of parameters such as depth and orientation of earthquake fault planes in real time is vital for an effective response. This project will greatly improve the quality of information inferred from seismic waveform data by using three-dimensional structural models of Earth and also provide valuable insight into the earthquake generatio ....Rapid Determination of Earthquake Sources in Australia. The Australasian region is at risk from both large earthquakes and tsunamis. Rapid and reliable determination of parameters such as depth and orientation of earthquake fault planes in real time is vital for an effective response. This project will greatly improve the quality of information inferred from seismic waveform data by using three-dimensional structural models of Earth and also provide valuable insight into the earthquake generation process. By comprehensively incorporating three-dimensional structural models in estimating earthquake sources, the project will be at the forefront of research worldwide. The science developed will underpin automated determination of characteristics of earthquakes and play a key part in efforts to mitigate the impact of tsunamis.Read moreRead less
Turbulent heat transfer during Mars Venus and Earth atmospheric entry. This project aims to design better heat shields for spacecraft. Designing heat shields for re-entry vehicles needs good models to predict aerodynamic heating. Conventional wind tunnels cannot measure aerodynamic heating in ground tests in the region of peak heating, making design uncertain and risky. This project will use a free-piston-driven expansion tunnel that can produce flows fast and dense enough to measure heating for ....Turbulent heat transfer during Mars Venus and Earth atmospheric entry. This project aims to design better heat shields for spacecraft. Designing heat shields for re-entry vehicles needs good models to predict aerodynamic heating. Conventional wind tunnels cannot measure aerodynamic heating in ground tests in the region of peak heating, making design uncertain and risky. This project will use a free-piston-driven expansion tunnel that can produce flows fast and dense enough to measure heating for turbulent boundary layers at the highest speeds encountered during re-entry. This should allow scientists to test and develop theoretical and numerical models of heating and so improve spacecraft design.Read moreRead less
Reconfigurable Conformal Antenna Arrays for Broadband in the Sky Networks. The project aims to develop the theory and technology for a novel type of antennas, namely, reconfigurable conformal antenna arrays, for future broadband in the sky networks (BISNets). BISNets are essential to providing digital services to users on the move and in remote areas. The antenna would be conformal to the surface of the mounting platform, and its elements would be reconfigured in situ to generate the optimum rad ....Reconfigurable Conformal Antenna Arrays for Broadband in the Sky Networks. The project aims to develop the theory and technology for a novel type of antennas, namely, reconfigurable conformal antenna arrays, for future broadband in the sky networks (BISNets). BISNets are essential to providing digital services to users on the move and in remote areas. The antenna would be conformal to the surface of the mounting platform, and its elements would be reconfigured in situ to generate the optimum radiation characteristics to suit the radio environment. It is expected that the project would advance the scientific knowledge of space-borne wireless communications and sensing in general, and antennas in particular, and significantly enhance the performance and reduce the cost of BISNets.Read moreRead less
Physics of Base Flows of Planetary Entry Configurations. Continued investment by Australia in the AHI will help to maintain Australia's leading role in the exciting fields of space research and hypersonics and to encourage future international collaboration. The research will use the unique existing experimental infrastructure (largely ARC funded) for space related research, which will enable Australia to make a valuable contribution to the design of future planetary missions. The project will p ....Physics of Base Flows of Planetary Entry Configurations. Continued investment by Australia in the AHI will help to maintain Australia's leading role in the exciting fields of space research and hypersonics and to encourage future international collaboration. The research will use the unique existing experimental infrastructure (largely ARC funded) for space related research, which will enable Australia to make a valuable contribution to the design of future planetary missions. The project will provide a stimulating, exciting and supportive environment for the training of postgraduate and postdoctoral personnel as well as students at the undergraduate level. It will help to motivate young Australians to pursue their interest in science and engineering.Read moreRead less
Radiating hypersonic flows. Benefits will accrue through the involvement of Australia in the international program for future space missions. Through this project, Australia, already among the leaders in scramjet propulsion development, can also become a major player in spacecraft design. Significant educational benefits will be created due to the challenging nature of the work, through immediate contact with leading overseas researchers, and through subsequent marketing of flight vehicles. The ....Radiating hypersonic flows. Benefits will accrue through the involvement of Australia in the international program for future space missions. Through this project, Australia, already among the leaders in scramjet propulsion development, can also become a major player in spacecraft design. Significant educational benefits will be created due to the challenging nature of the work, through immediate contact with leading overseas researchers, and through subsequent marketing of flight vehicles. The project could lead to the involvement of Australian technology at a commercial level in a new generation of hardware for space exploration.Read moreRead less
Hypervelocity re-entry. Addressing a critical area of space travel and its practical utilisation it will help expand a key technology niche which will facilitate our involvement in major programs of the future. In international space programs each participant provides a unique technical contribution and shares in the intellectual and economic returns. Educational benefits arise due to the challenging nature of the work, contact with overseas researchers, and through the marketing and developm ....Hypervelocity re-entry. Addressing a critical area of space travel and its practical utilisation it will help expand a key technology niche which will facilitate our involvement in major programs of the future. In international space programs each participant provides a unique technical contribution and shares in the intellectual and economic returns. Educational benefits arise due to the challenging nature of the work, contact with overseas researchers, and through the marketing and development of flight vehicles and associated technology. There will be opportunity for our graduates to be employed in senior positions overseas, and to subsequently return to Australia with advanced skills and facilitate Australian collaboration from positions of influence.Read moreRead less
Anticipatory, Adaptive, and Scalable Mobility Infrastructure for On-board Information Access. The recent advances in wireless technologies are offering new opportunities for ubiquitous information access in on-board mobile computing. Realising an effective on-board mobile computing infrastructure poses significant technical challenges at both application and data transport layers. Our approach features the integration of techniques from satellite communications, anticipatory transport protocols ....Anticipatory, Adaptive, and Scalable Mobility Infrastructure for On-board Information Access. The recent advances in wireless technologies are offering new opportunities for ubiquitous information access in on-board mobile computing. Realising an effective on-board mobile computing infrastructure poses significant technical challenges at both application and data transport layers. Our approach features the integration of techniques from satellite communications, anticipatory transport protocols, and personalised data management systems. The final outcome will be generic techniques and concepts for effective and efficient on-board access to global information sources and services (e.g., weather information, stock quotes, and infotainment). These concepts and techniques will have wider application scope, such as aeronautical, maritime and terrestrial public transport systems.Read moreRead less