Professor Richard Morgan
Professor

Richard Morgan

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53668

Background

Prof Morgan was the Director of the Centre for Hypersonics since its inception in 1997 until October 2021. He lectures in mechanical and aerospace engineering within the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering.

He has a strong research record in the development of hypervelocity impulsive facilities on which the UQ Centre for Hypersonics research program is based, including the ‘X’ series of super-orbital expansion tubes, and has extensive experience in hypersonic aero-thermo-dynamics and scramjet propulsion.

Richard Morgan has been developing superorbital ground based facilities for many years, and has collaborative research program with DSTG, NASA, ESA, Oxford University, Ecole Centrale (Paris) and AOARD in radiating flows, as well as continuing ARC support in this area since 1990, including two current ARC Discovery grants in partnership with European and American partners.

He was involved as a flight team member in the 2010 airborne observation of the Japanese ‘Hayabusa’ asteroid sample return mission, for which he was a co-recipient of the NASA Ames ‘honour’ award for 2010. He regularly gives invited talks in international meetings, and gave a plenary presentation to the AIAA Hypersonic Spaceplanes Conference in San Francisco in April 2011.

Professor Richard Morgan was awarded a 2012 UQ Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision award for encouraging student development through international student exchanges with overseas collaborators, whilst engendering internal cooperation within the study body.

Availability

Professor Richard Morgan is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Engineering

Search Professor Richard Morgan’s works on UQ eSpace

329 works between 1982 and 2025
All (329) Journal Article (97) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (225) Other Outputs (1) Edited Outputs (1)

1 - 20 of 329 works

2025

Journal Article

Emission spectroscopy and surface temperature analysis from Hayabusa2 sample return observation

Liu, Yu, Thompson, Matthew, Apirana, Steven F. T., Morgan, Richard G. and James, Christopher M. (2025). Emission spectroscopy and surface temperature analysis from Hayabusa2 sample return observation. Acta Astronautica, 229, 498-511. doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.01.037

Emission spectroscopy and surface temperature analysis from Hayabusa2 sample return observation

2024

Journal Article

Recent Advances in Australian Hypersonics

Veeraragavan, Anand and Morgan, Richard (2024). Recent Advances in Australian Hypersonics. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 62 (1). doi: 10.2514/1.A36246

Recent Advances in Australian Hypersonics

2024

Journal Article

Shock-tube measurements of radiation for titan atmospheric entry

McGilvray, Matthew, McIntyre, Timothy J., Glenn, Alex and Morgan, Richard G. (2024). Shock-tube measurements of radiation for titan atmospheric entry. Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 38 (3), 1-8. doi: 10.2514/1.T6892

Shock-tube measurements of radiation for titan atmospheric entry

2024

Journal Article

Large-scale free-piston-driven multi-mode shock expansion tunnel

Stennett, Samuel, Gildfind, David, Andrianatos, Andreas, Morgan, Richard, Jacobs, Peter, James, Christopher, Toniato, Pierpaolo, Chan, Wilson and Silvester, Todd (2024). Large-scale free-piston-driven multi-mode shock expansion tunnel. Experiments in Fluids, 65 (2) 16. doi: 10.1007/s00348-023-03756-y

Large-scale free-piston-driven multi-mode shock expansion tunnel

2023

Conference Publication

Preliminary results for CO2 recombination for low velocity, high density mars aerocapture conditions

Singh, M., Liu, Y., James, C.M., Morgan, R.G., Temme, N. and McIntyre, T.J. (2023). Preliminary results for CO2 recombination for low velocity, high density mars aerocapture conditions. 34th International Symposium on Shock Waves, Daegu, South Korea, 16-21 July 2023.

Preliminary results for CO2 recombination for low velocity, high density mars aerocapture conditions

2023

Conference Publication

Experimental VUV shock layer radiation measurements for 13 and 14 km/s high speed earth re-entry conditions

Lock, S., Liu, Y., Morgan, R., James, C. and McIntyre, T. (2023). Experimental VUV shock layer radiation measurements for 13 and 14 km/s high speed earth re-entry conditions. 34th International Symposium on Shock Waves, Daegu, South Korea, 16-21 July 2023.

Experimental VUV shock layer radiation measurements for 13 and 14 km/s high speed earth re-entry conditions

2023

Conference Publication

Measurements of Hypersonic Double Cone Flows with Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions in X3 Expansion Tunnel

Kennedy, Aaron, Penty Geraets, Rowland T., James, Christopher M., Thompson, Matthew, Morgan, Richard G., Austin, Joanna M., Zander, Fabian and McGilvray, Matthew (2023). Measurements of Hypersonic Double Cone Flows with Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions in X3 Expansion Tunnel. AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum, National Harbor, MD United States, 23-27 January 2023. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2023-0271

Measurements of Hypersonic Double Cone Flows with Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions in X3 Expansion Tunnel

2023

Journal Article

Correction: Measurements of Hypersonic Double Cone Flows with Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions in the X3 Expansion Tunnel (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA)

Kennedy, Aaron, Geraets, Rowland Penty, James, Christopher, Thompson, Matthew, Morgan, Richard, Austin, Joanna, Zander, Fabian and McGilvray, Matthew (2023). Correction: Measurements of Hypersonic Double Cone Flows with Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions in the X3 Expansion Tunnel (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA). AIAA SciTech Forum and Exposition, 2023. doi: 10.2514/6.2023-0271.c1

Correction: Measurements of Hypersonic Double Cone Flows with Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions in the X3 Expansion Tunnel (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA)

2022

Journal Article

In memoriam Prof. Klaus Hannemann (1959–2021)

Martinez Schramm, J., Dillmann, A., Hornung, H., Ito, K., Grabe, M., Karl, S., Klar, P., Morgan, R., Paull, A. and Steelant, J. (2022). In memoriam Prof. Klaus Hannemann (1959–2021). Shock Waves, 32 (4), 391-393. doi: 10.1007/s00193-022-01074-6

In memoriam Prof. Klaus Hannemann (1959–2021)

2022

Journal Article

Electron number density measurements in a Saturn entry condition

Liu, Yu, James, Christopher M., Morgan, Richard G., Jacobs, Peter A., Gollan, Rowan and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2022). Electron number density measurements in a Saturn entry condition. AIAA Journal, 60 (3), 1303-1315. doi: 10.2514/1.j060560

Electron number density measurements in a Saturn entry condition

2022

Journal Article

An experimental study of CO2 thermochemical nonequilibrium

Gu, Sangdi, Morgan, Richard G., McIntyre, Timothy J. and Brandis, Aaron M. (2022). An experimental study of CO2 thermochemical nonequilibrium. AIAA Journal, 60 (3), 1283-1292. doi: 10.2514/1.J061037

An experimental study of CO2 thermochemical nonequilibrium

2022

Journal Article

Heat transfer measurements in an expansion tube using infrared thermography

Ramesh, Ranjini, Morgan, Richard G. and Mee, David J. (2022). Heat transfer measurements in an expansion tube using infrared thermography. AIAA Journal, 60 (2), 883-891. doi: 10.2514/1.J059919

Heat transfer measurements in an expansion tube using infrared thermography

2021

Journal Article

Development and commissioning of the T6 Stalker Tunnel

Collen, Peter, Doherty, Luke J., Subiah, Suria D., Sopek, Tamara, Jahn, Ingo, Gildfind, David, Penty Geraets, Rowland, Gollan, Rowan, Hambidge, Christopher, Morgan, Richard and McGilvray, Matthew (2021). Development and commissioning of the T6 Stalker Tunnel. Experiments in Fluids, 62 (11) 225. doi: 10.1007/s00348-021-03298-1

Development and commissioning of the T6 Stalker Tunnel

2021

Journal Article

The effect of increased throat size on the nozzle-supply flow in reflected shock tunnels

Whitside, R. W., Chan, W. Y. K., Smart, M. K. and Morgan, R. G. (2021). The effect of increased throat size on the nozzle-supply flow in reflected shock tunnels. Shock Waves, 31 (5), 419-426. doi: 10.1007/s00193-021-01017-7

The effect of increased throat size on the nozzle-supply flow in reflected shock tunnels

2021

Journal Article

Experimental and computational fluid dynamics study of Hayabusa reentry peak heating

Fahy, Elise J., Buttsworth, David R., Gollan, Rowan J., Jacobs, Peter A., Morgan, Richard G. and James, Christopher M. (2021). Experimental and computational fluid dynamics study of Hayabusa reentry peak heating. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 58 (6), 1-14. doi: 10.2514/1.a34863

Experimental and computational fluid dynamics study of Hayabusa reentry peak heating

2021

Conference Publication

Infrared thermography on a biconic model in Hypersonic expansion tube flows

Cullen, Timothy G., James, Christopher M., Ravichandran, Ranjith, Thompson, Matthew, Moran, Michael, Ramesh, Ranjini, Morgan, Richard G. and Nadesan, Thirukumaran (2021). Infrared thermography on a biconic model in Hypersonic expansion tube flows. AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum, Virtual, 11–15 and 19–21 January 2021. Reston, VA USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-0873

Infrared thermography on a biconic model in Hypersonic expansion tube flows

2021

Conference Publication

Self-absorption and electron number density measurements on Saturn entry radiation

Liu, Yu, James, Christopher M., Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy (2021). Self-absorption and electron number density measurements on Saturn entry radiation. AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum, Virtual, 11–15 and 19–21 January 2021. Reston, VA USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-0209

Self-absorption and electron number density measurements on Saturn entry radiation

2021

Conference Publication

Experimental methods for studying post shock relaxation

Apirana, Steve F., James, Christopher M., Lewis, Steven and Morgan, Richard G. (2021). Experimental methods for studying post shock relaxation. AIAA Scitech 2021 Forum, Virtual, 11–15 and 19–21 January 2021. Reston, VA USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-0446

Experimental methods for studying post shock relaxation

2021

Conference Publication

A generalised calibration procedure for performing infrared thermography in expansion tubes

Ramesh, Ranjini, Morgan, Richard G. and Mee, David J. (2021). A generalised calibration procedure for performing infrared thermography in expansion tubes. AIAA Aviation Forum, Virtual, 2-6 August 2021. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-2981

A generalised calibration procedure for performing infrared thermography in expansion tubes

2020

Journal Article

Graphite ablation and radiation on interaction with hypervelocity earth-entry flows

Ravichandran, Ranjith, Lewis, Steven W., James, Christopher M., Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2020). Graphite ablation and radiation on interaction with hypervelocity earth-entry flows. Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 35 (2), 1-14. doi: 10.2514/1.t5928

Graphite ablation and radiation on interaction with hypervelocity earth-entry flows

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Hypervelocity Heat flux Measurements
    Queensland Bavaria Collaborative Research Program - Seed Grant
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Advancing the Science of Giant Planet Atmospheric Entry
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024
    Radiation reconstruction for ExoMars capsule flowfield
    AEDS Sarl
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Non-equilibrium reacting shock layers
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Electron Transpiration Cooling of Hypersonic Vehicles
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Study of Non-Equilibrium Wakes Model
    United States Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Optical Equipment for Advanced Thermofluid Measurements
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Hypersonic Science and Enabling Technologies - General Support
    Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Experimental Studies of High-Speed Flows
    National University of Singapore Research Collaboration Agreement
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Development of flow conditions and heated hardware for X3R
    Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Turbulent heat transfer during Mars Venus and Earth atmospheric entry
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Rapidly expanding non equilibrium hypersonic flow
    United States Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Hydrocarbon fuel technology for hypersonic air breathing vehicles
    Cooperative Research Centre Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Stage 2 Development of X3R, an advanced Scramjet testing Shock Tunnel
    Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Optical diagnostics for the investigation of high-speed energetic processes (ARC LIEF project administered by The University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Radiation and Ablation in Rapidly Expanding Flows
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Development of X3R, an advanced Scramjet testing Shock Tunnel
    Commonwealth Department of Defence Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Hypersonic Driver - NWTF Project
    University of Oxford
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Experimental Analysis of High Speed Earth Re-entry
    Go8 Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    The science of scramjet propulsion
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Ablative thermal protection systems
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Infrastructure for hypersonic laboratories
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Hypervelocity re-entry
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Radiation measurements in simulated ablation layers
    United States Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Ensuring a world-class hypersonic shock tunnel for maintaining world-leading hypersonic R&D
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Instrumentation Facility for Hypersonic Heat Transfer Measurements
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Radiating hypersonic flows
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2008
    Mach 10 Hydrogen fuelled scramjet development
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Mach 10 Scramjet Flight Thrust Measurements - An extension to the HyShot Flight Program
    United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Development of large scale expansion tubes
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Upgrading of hypersonics facilities
    Systemic Infrastucture Iniative
    Open grant
  • 2001
    X2 Expansion Tube Testing
    California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Calibration and performance optimisation of superorbital expansion tubes
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Blunt Body Aerodynamics in Superorbital Flows
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Conversion of RHYFL shock tunnel to an expansion tube
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Conversion of RHYFL shock tunnel to an expansion tube
    WBM Consulting Engineers
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Shock-Boundary Layer Interactions and Separation in Super Orbital Flows
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Ablation measurement in spacecraft re-entry heat shields
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Simulation of Interplanetary Aerodynamics
    ARC Investigators - International Links
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Study of Superorbital Ionising Flows
    ARC Investigators - International Links
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Ablation measurement in spacecraft re-entry heat shields
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1999
    Commissioning the superorbital expansion tube
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Collaboration with Japan on the proposed "Nereus" space mission
    DIST Bilateral Science & Technology Collab.Program
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Driver Optimisation for Super Orbital Flight Simulation
    DIST Bilateral Science & Technology Collab.Program
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Optical imaging for multi-parameter diagnostics in super orbital facilities
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996 - 1997
    Studies of the Unsteady Expansion in Expansion Tubes
    United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Richard Morgan is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Testing of inflatable reentry heat shields

  • Study of aerocapture maneuvers

    Aerocapture is a means of transferring a spacecraft from a hyperbolic to a captive orbit by means of hypervelocity aerodynamic maneuvers. They have great potential to increase the scope of space missions, but have never been tried to date. This project follows on from an initial 2003 study to do an experimental (in X3) and theoretical evaluation of candidate vehicle shapes.

  • Multistage rocket design

    Composite rocket modules developed at UQ will be ready for flight testing in 2004, and are expected to reach speeds of about Mach 3. Future applications anticipate using these modules in a multistaged configuration, and reaching hypersonic speeds. This project involves the design of a multistaged rocket, and the analysis of its expected performance

  • Mars gravity soft landing system

    Involves the design, construction and testing of a full scale impact attenuation system to protect the Mars gravity payload of 15 mice when they land at Woomera. Suitable for group thesis or design project (Mech 4552).

  • Mars gravity entry subsystem

    Involves dynamic and thermal analysis of the Mars Gravity reentry capsule. Suitable for group thesis or design project (Mech 4552). May be split into 2 individual projects.

  • Mars Gravity descent subsystem

    Involves the design, construction and testing of a mortar system for deploying the drogue parachute of the Mars gravity return capsule.

  • Expansion tube performance enhancement

    Expansion tubes use a cascade of shock tubes in series to improve performance over conventional shock tunnels. In general, for 'low' speed applications (less than about 8 km/sec), two tubular sections are optimum.

    However, due to certain restrictions on the operating conditions which are useable, there may be situations where three tubes are better at lower speeds. This thesis invovles a theoretical and experiemntal investigation

    of this effect.

  • Development of improved rupture diaphragms for X3

  • Design, construction and flight testing of Mach 2 ramjet

    Involves the design and construction of all components of a liquid fuel ramjet. Follow on from 2003 flight test at Woomera, October 2003. To be used as project/example material in M&S course work including Aerospace Propulsion, Hypersonics, CFD, Space Enginerring and design. Suitable for group thesis or design project (Mech 4552). Dependent on budget support from School of Engineering.

  • Design, construction and flight testing of Mach 2 pulse detonation wave engine (PDE)

    Involves the design and construction of all components of a PDE. Follow on from 2003 flight test at Woomera (postponed), October 2003. To be used as project/example material in M&S course work including Aerospace Propulsion, Hypersonics, CFD, Space Enginerring and design. Suitable for group thesis or design project (Mech 4552). Dependent on budget support from School of Engineering

  • Design of flight version of a Hybrid rocket

    In 2003, a static hybrid rocket was built and tested by a 4th year M&S student. The project will be extended in 2004 to the development of a flight version of the rocket, with the objective of testing at Woomera in 2005. This project could be run as group design (Mech4552) or a group thesis project.

  • Design and test of a parachute recovery system for the Ausroc 2.5 rocket

  • Commissioning of fibre winding machine for composite pressure vessels

    In 2003, UQ acquired a large fibre winding machine from ASRI/DSTO which can be used for the fabrication of various highly stressed components, including rocket motors, fuel tanks and fire extinguisher cases. This machine needs to be commissioned, programmed and used to prepare prototype fuel tanks fro the ASRI 'Ausroc 2.5' rocket project. The machine is currently configured for mechanical control, and the project involves conversion to computerised fibre positioning.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Professor Richard Morgan's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au