Penn State University
Penn State University

Department of

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering


Committed to Teaching, Research, and Service

Research & Facilities - Research - Combustion & Propulsion

Faculty: Dr. Dan Haworth, Dr. Anil Kulkarni, Dr. Kenneth K. Kuo, Dr. Thomas Litzinger, Dr. Domenic Santavicca, Dr. Robert Santoro, Dr. Stefan Thynell, Dr. Stephen Turns, Dr. van Duin, Dr. Vigor Yang, Dr. Savas Yavuzkurt, Dr. Rich Yetter

Research Areas: Supercritical jet breakup of combustion, solid propellant ducted rocket studies, structural/ballistic risk assessment, non-intrusive IR diagnostic systems, particle laden shear flows in solid fuel ramjets, flame spreading over aluminum sheets, ignition and combustion of metal particles, flame structure of solid and liquid propellants; high-pressure chemistry of hydrocarbon fuels, combustion and emissions of spark ignited and diesel engines, combustion chemistry of rocket propellants, soot particle formation and destruction in diffusion flames, disruptive burning/ignition of aluminum slurry propellants, multi-component fuel droplet vaporization and combustion, solid rocket propellants, nonlinear combustion instabilities in liquid propellant and rocket motors and gas turbine engines, and gasification of coal/water slurry fuels, emissions and stability of lean premixed gas turbine combustors.

Pulse Detonation

Laser Probe of Flame
Pulse Detonation
Laser Probe of Flame


Research being done at the Propulsion Engineering Research Center (PERC) integrates "chemical, electrical, and advanced propulsion for space applications which complements traditional strengths in gas turbine, diesel and spark-ignited engine research. The focus for space applications is chemical propulsion, with an emphasis on combustion and turbomachinery."


Research being done at the High Pressure Combustion Laboratory has been concentrated in the area of "combustion of solid and liquid propellants for rocket and gun propulsion systems as well as solid fuels for ramjets and hybrid propulsion systems. Recently, the scope of research has been expanded further to cover combustion of airbag propellants and other energetic materials for commercial applications. On-going research topics include fundamental studies in propellant combustion and ignition, rocket motor performance analysis, safety and hazard problems, jet breakup mechanisms in liquid propellant rockets, ballistic behavior of gun propellants, flame spreading processes over aluminum sheets and energetic foils, ignition and combustion of single metal particles, combustion of solid fuels under hybrid motor conditions." To learn more about the High Pressure Combustion Laboratory and the Research being done there, visit their website at http://www.hpcl.psu.edu/.

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