Centre for Hypersonics (CFH)

The University of Queensland

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The Centre for Hypersonics conducts research into all aspects of hypersonic flight, including test facilities, air-breathing engines, rocket flight testing, electric propulsion, aerothermodynamics, computational fluid dynamics and optical diagnostics. The researchers in the centre have been involved in collaborative research programs with about 20 universities and research organisations around the world. CFH researchers and research programs have been recognised for their sustained, outstanding contributions and achievements in the advancement of atmospheric, hypersonic flight and related technologies for the past 35 years. The Centre for Hypersonics is renowned globally for excellence and innovation, and have active collaborations with industry, international universities and government agencies, including those in France, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and India.

Website https://mechmining.uq.edu.au/research/hypersonics

Key science sectors

• Advanced manufacturing
• Defence, aviation and space
• Engineering
• Transport

Strengths and capabilities

• Development of hypervelocity test facilities
• SCRAMjet propulsion (experiment, analysis and design)
• Flight testing experimentation and analysis
• Advanced instrumentation for aerodynamic measurements
• Computational fluid dynamic analysis of hypervelocity flows
• Optical diagnostics for hypervelocity superorbital flows
• Hypersonic electric propulsion
• Magnetohydrodynamics
• Hypersonic system design
• Hypersonic aerodynamic testing

Facilities and major equipment

• T4 Stalker Tube - Free-piston driven shock tunnel
• X2 - Free-piston driven next generation super-orbital expansion tube
• X3 - Free-piston driven large super-orbital expansion tube
• X3R Free Piston Reflected Shock Tunnel
• Drummond Tube/Tunnel - small shock tunnel

Number of research staff

20-100 research staff

Address

Level 4 Mansergh Shaw Bld, The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072

Lead researchers

• A/Professor Anand Veeraragavan—World-leading research in the field of hypersonics and supersonic combustion.
• Professor Vincent Wheatley—Leading Australian researcher in supersonic plasma flows, hypersonics and computational fluid dynamics.
• Professor Richard Morgan—Extensive experience in hypersonic aero-thermo-dynamics and scramjet propulsion.

Achievements of the centre

• Designed and Developed the X3R shock tunnel for the testing of large scale scramjet engines
• Initiated the HIFiRE flight program wth the Queensland Government and support of Australian Defence Science and Technology and Boeing

Organisation type

• University Research Centre
• Queensland Government - Partner