
Overview
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
Works
Search Professor Richard Morgan’s works on UQ eSpace
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of heat flux and catalycity for giant planet entry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Non equilibrium reacting shock layers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Non equilibrium reacting shock layers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Non equilibrium reacting shock layers
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of ablation radiation coupling for high speed Earth re-entry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
On the Repeatability and Flow Characterisation of Hypersonic Ground Test Facilities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rowan Gollan, Dr Carolyn Jacobs, Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Atmospheric CN Radiation During NASA Dragonfly Entry to Titan
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Experimental and numerical study of the non-equilibrium flow environment experienced during ice giant planetary entry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into electron transpiration cooling in hypersonic flows
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Vincent Wheatley
-
Doctor Philosophy
On the Repeatability and Flow Characterisation of Hypersonic Ground Test Facilities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rowan Gollan, Dr Carolyn Jacobs, Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of ablation radiation coupling for high speed Earth re-entry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr Chris James
-
Doctor Philosophy
Propulsion System Wake Signatures
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Optically based heat flux measurements in radiating expansion tunnel flows
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rowan Gollan
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Hypervelocity boundary-layer flow experiments with high surface temperature ablation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Thermal Imaging of Re-Entry Vehicles
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Mee
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Non-equilibrium radiation in simulated giant planet entries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Ablation and Radiation in Hypervelocity Earth-Entry Flows
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Radiation from Simulated Atmospheric Entry into the Gas Giants
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr David Gildfind
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Mars entry afterbody radiative heating: An experimental study of nonequilibrium CO2 expanding flow
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Air Radiation in Superorbital Expanding Flow
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
On Binary Scaling and Ground-to-Flight Extrapolation in High-Enthalpy Facilities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Hypervelocity Shock Layer Emission Spectroscopy with High Temperature Ablating Models
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Superorbital Re-entry Shock Layers: Flight and Laboratory Comparisons
Principal Advisor
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
SCRAMJET TESTING AT HIGH TOTAL PRESSURE
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Gildfind
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Measurement of Radiative Heat Transfer in Simulated Titan and Mars Atmospheres in Expansion Tubes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Re-Entry Radiation Aerothermodynamics in the Vacuum Ultraviolet
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Simulation of Ablation Layers in Impulse Facilities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Simulation of Ablation in a Superorbital Expansion Tube
Principal Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Radiation in low density hypervelocity flows
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Development of High Total Pressure Scramjet Flow Conditions using the X2 Expansion Tube
Principal Advisor
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
Modelling of radiating shock layers for atmospheric entry at Earth and Mars
Principal Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Experimental study and modelling of non-equilibrium radiation during Titan and Martian entry
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Boundary Layer Separation in Hypersonic Ducted Flows
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Mee
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Scramjet testing at high enthalpies in expansion tube facilities
Principal Advisor
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Aerothermodynamics of Hypervelocity Toroidal Aerobrakes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
AEROTHERMODYNAMIC SIMULATION OF SUBSCALE MODELS OF THE FIRE II AND TITAN EXPLORER VEHICLES IN EXPANSION TUBES
Principal Advisor
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
MULTIDIMENSIONAL VISCOUS FLOWS AT SUPERORBITAL SPEEDS
Principal Advisor
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
Stability Assessment of Planetary Entry Vehicles in the X3 Superorbital Expansion Tube
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor David Mee
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
AEROTHERMODYNAMICS OF THE GAS GIANTS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
PREDICTED SCRAMJET TESTING CAPABILITIES OF THE PROPOSED RHYFL-X EXPANSION TUBE.
Principal Advisor
-
2002
Master Engineering Sc
Measurement of the Rate of Ablation in Ground Based Impulse Facilities
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Ground Testing at Superorbital Flight Conditions in a Large Scale Expansion Tube
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Gildfind
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into electron transpiration cooling in hypersonic flows
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Vincent Wheatley
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Free-jet testing of a Mach 12 scramjet in an expansion tube
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Gildfind
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Temperature Measurements in Hypervelocity Flows using Thermally-Assisted Laser-Induced Fluorescence
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Experimental Investigation of a 3D Thermal Compression Scramjet Using Advanced Optical Techniques
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre
-
2014
Master Philosophy
Experimental Study of Hypersonic Wing/Fin Root Heating at Mach 8
Associate Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Flow Structure/Chemistry Coupling in the Ignition Process in Shock-Induced-Combustion Scramjets
Associate Advisor
-
2012
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing the Global Warming Potential of Coal Mine Ventilation Air by Combustion in a Free-Piston Engine
Associate Advisor
-
2009
Master Philosophy
Simulation of Separating Flow in the X2 Expansion Tube Over Bluff Aerocapture Vehicles
Associate Advisor
-
-
2007
Doctor Philosophy
DEVELOPMENT AND MODELLING OF EXPANSION TUBES
Associate Advisor
-
2005
Master Philosophy
VALIDATION OF A CFD SOLVER FOR HYPERSONIC FLOWS
Associate Advisor
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
MODELLING OF THE BURNING OF IRON RODS IN NORMAL GRAVITY AND REDUCED GRAVITY
Associate Advisor
-
2002
Doctor Philosophy
LASER DIAGNOSTICS FOR GROUND BASED SUPERORBITAL TEST FACILITIES
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Professor Richard Morgan's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: