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)

221 - 240 of 329 works

2007

Conference Publication

Experimental study of two-dimensional shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions

Dann, A., Morgan, R. G. and McGilvray, M. (2007). Experimental study of two-dimensional shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions. 26th International Symposium on Shock Waves (ISSW26), Gottingen, Germany, 15-20 July 2007. Berlin & Heidelberg: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-85181-3_74

Experimental study of two-dimensional shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions

2007

Conference Publication

Simulation of CO2–N2 expansion tunnel flow for the study of radiating bluntbody shock layers

Potter, D. F., Gollan, R. J., Eichmann, T., Jacobs, P. A., Morgan, R. G. and McIntyre, T. J. (2007). Simulation of CO2–N2 expansion tunnel flow for the study of radiating bluntbody shock layers. 16th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AFMC), Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 3-7 December, 2007. Brisbane, Queensland: School of Engineering, The University of Queensland.

Simulation of CO2–N2 expansion tunnel flow for the study of radiating bluntbody shock layers

2007

Conference Publication

Transient Heat Analysis of a Carbon Composite Scramjet Combustion Chamber

Zander, F. and Morgan, R. G. (2007). Transient Heat Analysis of a Carbon Composite Scramjet Combustion Chamber. 16th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference (AFMC), Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 3-7 December, 2007. Brisbane, Australia: School of Engineering, The University of Queensland.

Transient Heat Analysis of a Carbon Composite Scramjet Combustion Chamber

2006

Conference Publication

Simulations of scramjet starting and establishment time in an expansion tunnel

McGilvray, Matthew, Jacobs, Peter A. and Morgan, Richard G. (2006). Simulations of scramjet starting and establishment time in an expansion tunnel. 14th AIAA/AHI International Space Planes and Hypersonics Systems Technologies Conference, , , November 6, 2006-November 9, 2006. Reston, Virigina: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.. doi: 10.2514/6.2006-8143

Simulations of scramjet starting and establishment time in an expansion tunnel

2006

Conference Publication

Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a Titan explorer model

Capra, Bianca R. and Morgan, Richard G. (2006). Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a Titan explorer model. AIAA/AHI International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 6-9 November 2006. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2006-7934

Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a Titan explorer model

2006

Conference Publication

Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a Titan Explorer Model

Capra, B. R. and Morgan, R G (2006). Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a Titan Explorer Model. 14th AIAA/AHI Space Plans and Hypersonic and Technologies Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 6-9 November 2006. U.S.A.: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Radiative and total heat transfer measurements to a Titan Explorer Model

2006

Conference Publication

Expansion tube operating conditions for studying nonequilibrium radiation relevant to Titan Aerocapture

Brandis, A. M., Gollan, R. J., Scott, M. P., Morgan, R. G. and Jacobs, P. A. (2006). Expansion tube operating conditions for studying nonequilibrium radiation relevant to Titan Aerocapture. 42nd AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, California, USA, 9-12 July 2006. USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Expansion tube operating conditions for studying nonequilibrium radiation relevant to Titan Aerocapture

2006

Conference Publication

Radiation measurements in nonreflected shock tunnels

Morgan, Richard, Mcintyre, Tim, Gollan, Rowan, Jacobs, Peter, Brandis, Aaron, McGilvray, Matthew, Van Diem, Dwight, Gnoffo, Peter, Pulsonnetti, Maria V. and Wright, Michael (2006). Radiation measurements in nonreflected shock tunnels. 25th AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference, San Francisco, CA, United States, 5-8 June 8 2006. Reston, Virigina: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.. doi: 10.2514/6.2006-2958

Radiation measurements in nonreflected shock tunnels

2006

Conference Publication

Simulations of scramjet starting and establishment time in an expansion tunnel

McGilvray, M, Jacobs, P A and Morgan, R G (2006). Simulations of scramjet starting and establishment time in an expansion tunnel. 14th AIAA/AHI Space Plans and Hypersonic and Technologies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 6-9 November 2006. USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Simulations of scramjet starting and establishment time in an expansion tunnel

2006

Conference Publication

Radiation measurements in nonreflected shock tunnels

Morgan, Richard, McIntyre, Tim, Gollan, Rowan, Jacobs, Peter, Brandis, Aaron, McGilvray, Matthew, van Diem, Dwight, Gnoffo, Peter, Pulsonnetti, Maria and Wright, Michael (2006). Radiation measurements in nonreflected shock tunnels. 25th AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference, San Francisco, California, USA, 5-8 June 2006. Reston, VA, U.S.A.: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Radiation measurements in nonreflected shock tunnels

2006

Conference Publication

Study of separating compressible turbulent boundary-layers

Dann, A. G., Denman, A. W., Jacobs, P A and Morgan, R G (2006). Study of separating compressible turbulent boundary-layers. 14th AIAA/AHI Space Plans and Hypersonic and Technologies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 6-9 November 2006. USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2006-7943

Study of separating compressible turbulent boundary-layers

2006

Conference Publication

Impulse facility simulation of hypervelocity radiating flows

Brandis, A. M., Buttsworth, D. R., Capra, B. R., Eichmann, T., Gollan, R. J., Jacobs, C. M., Jacobs, P. A., Macrossan, M. N., McGilvray, M., McIntyre, T. J., Morgan, R. G., Potter, D. F., Scott, M. P. and van Diem, D. (2006). Impulse facility simulation of hypervelocity radiating flows. 2nd International Workshop on Radiation of High Temperature Gases in Atmospheric Entry, Rome, Italy, 6-8 September 2006. The Netherlands: ESA Publications.

Impulse facility simulation of hypervelocity radiating flows

2005

Journal Article

Scramjets and Shock Tunnels: The Queensland Experience

Stalker, R. J., Paull, A., Mee, D. J., Morgan, R. G. and Jacobs, P. A. (2005). Scramjets and Shock Tunnels: The Queensland Experience. Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 41 (6), 471-513. doi: 10.1016/j.paerosci.2005.08.002

Scramjets and Shock Tunnels: The Queensland Experience

2005

Conference Publication

Heat transfer measurements on the first experimental layer of the FIRE II reentry vehicle in expansion tubes

Capra, B. R., Leyland, P. and Morgan, R. G. (2005). Heat transfer measurements on the first experimental layer of the FIRE II reentry vehicle in expansion tubes. 5th European Symposium on Aerothermodynamics for Space Vehicles, Cologne, Germany, 8-11 November 2004. The Nethelands: ESA Publications.

Heat transfer measurements on the first experimental layer of the FIRE II reentry vehicle in expansion tubes

2005

Conference Publication

Operating conditions in UQ's impulse facilities for scramjet testing

McGilvray, M., Morgan, R. G., Paull, A., Abdel-Jawad, M. M., Jacobs, P. A., McIntyre, T. J. and Scott, M. A. (2005). Operating conditions in UQ's impulse facilities for scramjet testing. 25th International Symposium on Shock Waves, Bangalore, India, 17-22 July 2005.

Operating conditions in UQ's impulse facilities for scramjet testing

2005

Conference Publication

Flow establishment over rearward-facing steps in high enthalpy flows

Hayne, MJ, Mee, DJ, Gai, SL, Stewart, BS and Morgan, RG (2005). Flow establishment over rearward-facing steps in high enthalpy flows. 24th International Symposium on Shock Waves, Beijing Peoples R China, Jul 11-16, 2004. BERLIN: SPRINGER-VERLAG BERLIN. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-27009-6_23

Flow establishment over rearward-facing steps in high enthalpy flows

2005

Conference Publication

Expansion tube investigations of planetary aerodynamics

Morgan, Richard G. (2005). Expansion tube investigations of planetary aerodynamics. 25th International Symposium on Shock Waves – ISSW25, Bangalore, India, 17-22 July 2005. Hyderabad, A.P., India: Universities Press (India).

Expansion tube investigations of planetary aerodynamics

2005

Conference Publication

Geometrical Nozzle Design for Wagtail Rocket Motors

McGilvray, Matthew, Teakle, Phillip, Jacobs, Peter and Morgan, Richard (2005). Geometrical Nozzle Design for Wagtail Rocket Motors. 5th Australian Space Science Conference, Melbourne (Hosted by RMIT), September 14 - 16, 2005.

Geometrical Nozzle Design for Wagtail Rocket Motors

2005

Conference Publication

A new single stage driver for the X2 expansion tube

Scott, Michael P., Morgan, Richard G. and Jacobs, Peter A. (2005). A new single stage driver for the X2 expansion tube. 43rd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit - Meeting Papers, Reno, NV USA, 10-13 January 2005. doi: 10.2514/6.2005-697

A new single stage driver for the X2 expansion tube

2005

Conference Publication

Superorbital expansion tube operation: estimates of flow conditions via numerical simulation

Jacobs, P. A., Silvester, T. B., Morgan, R. G., Scott ,M .P., Gollan, R. J. and McIntyre, T. J. (2005). Superorbital expansion tube operation: estimates of flow conditions via numerical simulation. 43rd AIAA Aerospace Science Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, Nevada, United States, 10 - 13 January 2005. Reston, Virigina: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.. doi: 10.2514/6.2005-694

Superorbital expansion tube operation: estimates of flow conditions via numerical simulation

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
    WBM Consulting Engineers
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Conversion of RHYFL shock tunnel to an expansion tube
    ARC Collaborative Grant (SPIRT)
    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