Turbine Power Sciences and High Temperature Propulsion Materials Research

About the Research

DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory is seeking scientists and engineers to conduct research on Vertical Takeoff Lift (VTOL) Turbine Power. The focus is on developing advanced materials and turbomachinery concepts for highly improved power-density, durability, and efficiency for future Army VTOL propulsion systems. The goal is to discover and operationalize these technologies to meet power demand, speed, range, and low-cost sustainment gaps.

Main Research Thrust Areas

• Advanced Ceramic Composite Systems
• Ultra High Temperature Ceramics for Propulsion
• Advanced Thermo-Fluid Models in Pressure Gain Combustor Environments
• Advanced Gas Generator Turbine Concepts

Metrics for the Research

• Durable turbine material system providing 30% increased life
• Next-generation ultra-high temperature ceramics enabling 50% improved efficiency/power-density
• High-fidelity computational methods for predictive designs of novel turbomachinery concepts
• Advanced turbomachinery concepts, material systems, and turbine configurations enabling 50% improved efficiency/power-density and 30% improved durability

Knowledge Products

• Increased knowledge of processing-structure-property (PSP) relationships for technical/refractory ceramics, ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs), and hybrid materials exposed to extreme conditions.
• Advanced low-k refractory ceramic materials with high fracture toughness and attrition-resistance.
• High-accuracy fluid-structure interaction models in multiphase turbulent internal flows with low computational-cost.
• Advanced turbomachinery concepts and designs enabling responsive propulsion systems with high power density.

Keywords

High Temperature Propulsion Materials, Ceramics Turbomachinery Sciences, Advanced Gas Turbine Engine, Fluid-Structure interaction models, Internal fluid dynamics, Adaptive Cycle Convertible Engines

About Army Research Directorate (ARD)

ARL’s Army Research Directorate (ARD) focuses on exploiting concept development, discovery, technology development, and transition of the most promising disruptive science and technology to deliver to the Army fundamentally advantageous science-based capabilities through laboratory’s 11 research competencies. This intramural research directorate also manages the laboratory’s essential research programs, which are flagship research efforts focused on delivering defined outcomes.

About ARL-RAP

The Army Research Laboratory Research Associateship Program (ARL-RAP) is designed to significantly increase the involvement of creative and highly trained scientists and engineers from academia and industry in scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Army. Scientists and Engineers at the CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL) help shape and execute the Army's program for meeting the challenge of developing technologies that will support Army forces in meeting future operational needs by pursuing scientific research and technological developments in diverse fields such as: applied mathematics, atmospheric characterization, simulation and human modeling, digital/optical signal processing, nanotechnology, material science and technology, multifunctional technology, combustion processes, propulsion and flight physics, communication and networking, and computational and information sciences.

A Complete Application Includes

• Curriculum Vitae or Resume
• Three References Forms
• Transcripts

Contact Information

If selected by an advisor, the participant will be required to write a research proposal to submit to the ARL-RAP review panel. For questions about this opportunity, please email ARLFellowship@orau.org.