Three-Dimensional Numerical Flowfields of Rotating Detonation Engines and Computational Challenges

Three-Dimensional Numerical Flowfields of Rotating Detonation Engines and Computational Challenges | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Three-Dimensional Numerical Flowfields of Rotating Detonation Engines and Computational Challenges Francisca Serras, João C. Silva, Francisco Brójo This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8582101/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The aerospace industry is a significant contributor to CO₂ emissions, necessitating inno- vative propulsion technologies. Rotating detonation engines (RDEs) offer higher thermal ef- ficiency than traditional deflagration combustion by utilizing detonation waves that travel az- imuthally at speeds up to km/s. This study presents a three-dimensional numerical simulation of a premixed hydrogen-air RDE, achieving stable operation with a single detonation wave. The flowfield development from ignition to stable operation is analyzed, focusing on ignition and in- jection processes, and comparing results with ideal Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) values. Challenges in modeling, such as computational resource limitations and achieving stable detonation, are addressed. The simulation successfully captured key flowfield structures, including detonation wave propagation, oblique shocks, and slip lines, with performance metrics (thrust: 940 N, spe- cific impulse: 179 s) aligning with literature. A hydrogen-oxygen mixture failed to sustain stable detonation, highlighting the sensitivity of RDE operation to fuel-oxidizer combinations. The study underscores the potential of RDEs for reducing fuel consumption by up to 20% while improving efficiency, though challenges like backflow and injection modeling remain. These findings contribute to advancing RDE technology toward practical applications, supporting the development of environmentally friendly propulsion systems. Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) Hydrogen Combustion Detonation CFD Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8582101","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":584877808,"identity":"57142e2b-ca46-4ec9-84f2-2edcf3a64e7f","order_by":0,"name":"Francisca Serras","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidade da Beira Interior","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Francisca","middleName":"","lastName":"Serras","suffix":""},{"id":584877809,"identity":"f0edbcac-038b-4d39-857d-31183c9a2031","order_by":1,"name":"João C. 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