Abstract
Rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) is emerging as a promising propulsion technology as it provides higher fuel efficiency and reduced system weight compared to conventional rocket engines. As this technology expands from major government and aerospace organizations into university laboratories, researchers face a broader challenge: they must create experimental environments that are safe and affordable while also managing the wastes and responsibilities those systems produce. The prototyping process produces metal powder residues, machining coolant waste, and combustion soot. Each waste stream is governed by different regulatory frameworks that involve stakeholders ranging from material suppliers to regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). At the same time, the high cost and complexity of existing test facilities raise the threshold for institutions to participate in RDRE research. This thesis portfolio addresses both dimensions of the challenge. My technical project presents the design of a compact and low-cost detonation test facility suitable for university-level research, while my STS research paper examines how the waste streams generated during RDRE prototyping are classified and governed. Together, they show that advancing RDRE technology is not solely a matter of combustion physics and mechanical design. It also requires transparent governance systems to keep pace with the processes and risks that new experimental facilities introduce.
My technical research describes the design and analysis of a modular detonation test facility built at the University of Virginia’s Aerospace Research Laboratory. This test facility has three main subsystems: gas and ignition, main test structure, and diagnostics. The gas and ignition subsystem uses Arduino-controlled mass flow controllers and solenoid valves to deliver a mixture of ethylene and oxygen at an equivalence ratio of one, with nitrogen added as a diluent to control detonation strength and maintain safer operating conditions. The ignition system uses a spark plug powered by an ignition coil that steps up voltage from a 12 V DC power supply. All ignition and valve actuation are performed remotely from behind blast shields, and the system defaults to safe conditions in the event of power loss. The main test structure consists of a 30-inch linear pre-detonator coupled to a curved test section that simulates a two-dimensional slice of a rotating detonation engine annulus, with detonation waves propagating through a 4 mm × 2 mm rectangular channel. The diagnostics system combines soot foil with lasers, lenses, and photodiodes to measure cell structure, wave speed, and flame-shock coupling. Analytical heat-transfer calculations and structural simulations were used to evaluate whether the design could withstand repeated testing. These results indicated acceptable thermal loading, limited deformation, and strong factors of safety for the aluminum and polycarbonate selected, suggesting that the facility should withstand the expected operating conditions. By lowering the cost to less than $5,000 and accommodating interchangeable channel geometries, the facility lowers the entry barrier for detonation research at university laboratories and among independent researchers.
My STS research paper examines how the main waste streams produced during RDRE prototyping are classified and how responsibility for managing them is distributed. The paper focuses on three waste streams: copper alloy powder from additive manufacturing, machining coolant used during metal component fabrication, and combustion soot generated during testing. Using regulatory documents, occupational hygiene standards, safety data sheets, and engineering literature, I compared how these materials are categorized as hazardous, recyclable, or benign and identified which actors are responsible for those decisions. The research shows that waste governance is distributed across material suppliers, laboratory operators, workers, disposal contractors, and regulatory agencies rather than controlled by any single authority. It also shows that formal compliance does not always align with actual protection as it largely excludes the frontline workers whose practical experience may strengthen it. Copper alloy powder is governed by strict explosion-risk frameworks, but whether used powder is recycled or discarded often depends on supply-chain policies and certification paperwork rather than the condition of the powder itself. Machining coolant has clear regulatory exposure thresholds, but coolant composition can change over time during use. Facilities may not always detect when it has accumulated enough heavy metals or contaminants to require hazardous waste disposal. Combustion soot presents the clearest governance gap as existing standards emphasize mass-based particulate measurements, while occupational health research suggests that particle number concentration may better capture inhalation risk. Drawing on frameworks of co-production, responsible innovation, and technological citizenship, the paper argues that waste governance actively shapes what experiments can be conducted, how laboratories define safe practice, and who bears the risks of propulsion research.
Notes
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering; Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Technical Advisor: Chloe Dedic
STS Advisor: Kent Wayland
Technical Team Members: Connor Green, Alvin Kim, Irion Thompson, Josiah Martin, Brandon Dawson, Albert Castellon-Prado, Frederic Ramirez-Melenciano, Derek Liu, Tyler Verry, Spence Hartman, Saif Rahman, Tyler Fisher, Ryan Malatesta
