Mechanical Engineering Seminar: Dr. Campbell D. Carter

Dr. Campbell D. Carter of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will present a special seminar.

Title:

Air Force Research Laboratory High-Speed Propulsion Research

Abstract:

Understanding complex fluid-flow phenomena that are relevant to USAF propulsion devices requires the development of diagnostic techniques. In this seminar I will discuss efforts to apply innovative diagnostics in two distinct cases. In the first case, I describe the application of synchrotron radiation to study optically dense fuel sprays. It is shown that this approach can yield new insights and information (e.g., two-phase flowfield structure, droplet sizes and distribution, etc.) that are important to a wide range of AF propulsion devices, including gas-turbine and scramjet engines. This work was performed at the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratories. In the second case, I describe kHz-rate imaging diagnostics (planar laser-induced fluorescence, PLIF, and particle image velocimetry, PIV) that can be applied to both low- and high-speed combustion systems. Here, diode-pumped lasers and CMOS cameras were used to study the flowfield within turbulent flames. Both the feasibility and the utility of this diagnostic are demonstrated with measurements in a canonical flowfield, the lifted jet flame. This work was performed at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Stuttgart, Germany.

Bio:

Dr. Carter is a native of Texas and a graduate of the University of Texas (Austin); he received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. Currently, he is a Principal Aerospace Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Here, he develops and applies advanced diagnostic methods for the study of complex fluid flow phenomena, including those relevant to high-speed propulsion.

Hosted by Professor Jeff Sutton.