This senior mechanical engineering capstone project aims to contribute to the Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) research field through presenting a synthesis and adaptation of currently published literature on RDEs to create a design methodology. RDEs have prospective applications as orbital maneuvering thrusters, staged launch vehicle propulsion, gas turbine combustors, or primary vehicle propulsion. The goal of this project is to build a modular, GH2-GO2 experimental prototype theoretically capable of producing 1350N of thrust.

Our operational goals during the development process is to study the effect of engine geometry on stability and engine performance. The engine will be designed with modularity in mind to accommodate future changes when research progresses. Work will be published publicly in full along with all experimental data, as a reference roadmap for future design, construction, and testing of RDEs; here in Newfoundland and on the global scale.