Professor Richard Morgan
Professor

Richard Morgan

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53592

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

327 works between 1982 and 2024
All (327) Journal Article (95) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (225) Other Outputs (1) Edited Outputs (1)

261 - 280 of 327 works

2002

Conference Publication

Experimental and numerical studies of flows about a Toroidal Ballute

Lourel, I., Eichmann, T. N., Isbister, S., Mcintyre, T. J., Houwing, A. F. P. and Morgan, R. G. (2002). Experimental and numerical studies of flows about a Toroidal Ballute. Twenty-Third International Symposium on Shock Waves, The University of Texas at Arlington, USA, 23-27 July, 2001. USA: ISSW23.

Experimental and numerical studies of flows about a Toroidal Ballute

2002

Conference Publication

Stability tests in superorbital expansion tubes

Abdel-Jawad, M., Mee, D. J., Morgan, R. G. and Chiu, S.H. (2002). Stability tests in superorbital expansion tubes. 11th AIAA/AAAF International Conference Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies, Orleans, France, 29/09/02 - 04/10/02. USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Stability tests in superorbital expansion tubes

2002

Conference Publication

Transient force measurements at superorbital speeds

Abdel-Jawad, M., Mee, D. J., Morgan, R. G., Jacobs, P.A. and Philpot, J.A. (2002). Transient force measurements at superorbital speeds. Twenty-Third International Symposium on Shock Waves, The University of Texas at Arlington, USA, 23-27 July, 2001. USA: ISSW23.

Transient force measurements at superorbital speeds

2002

Conference Publication

A generalized nonequilibrium binary scaling for shock standoff on hypersonic blunt bodies

Inger, G. R., Higgins, C. E. and Morgan, R. G. (2002). A generalized nonequilibrium binary scaling for shock standoff on hypersonic blunt bodies. 40th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Reno, Nevada, USA, 14-17 January, 2002. USA: AIAA. doi: 10.2514/6.2002-1117

A generalized nonequilibrium binary scaling for shock standoff on hypersonic blunt bodies

2002

Journal Article

Shock standoff on hypersonic blunt bodies in nonequilibrium gas flows

Inger, GR, Higgins, C and Morgan, R (2002). Shock standoff on hypersonic blunt bodies in nonequilibrium gas flows. Journal of Thermophysics And Heat Transfer, 16 (2), 245-250. doi: 10.2514/2.6674

Shock standoff on hypersonic blunt bodies in nonequilibrium gas flows

2002

Conference Publication

The starting processes of an expansion tube nozzle

Stewart, B. S., Jacobs, P.A. and Morgan, R. G. (2002). The starting processes of an expansion tube nozzle. Twenty-Third International Symposium on Shock Waves, The University of Texas at Arlington, USA, 23-27 July, 2001. USA: ISSW23.

The starting processes of an expansion tube nozzle

2001

Book Chapter

Free Piston-Driven Reflected Shock Tunnels

Morgan, R. G. (2001). Free Piston-Driven Reflected Shock Tunnels. Handbook of Shock Waves. (pp. 587-601) edited by Gabi Ben-Dor, Ozer Igra and Tov Elperin. USA: Academic Press.

Free Piston-Driven Reflected Shock Tunnels

2001

Conference Publication

Diagnostics of A Range of Highly Superorbital Carbon Dioxide Flows

Wegener, Margaret, Sutcliffe, Mark, Morgan, Richard, McIntyre, Tim and Rubinsztein-Dunlop, Halina (2001). Diagnostics of A Range of Highly Superorbital Carbon Dioxide Flows. 39th AIAA Aeropspace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, USA, 8-11 January, 2001. Reston, Virigina: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.. doi: 10.2514/6.2001-304

Diagnostics of A Range of Highly Superorbital Carbon Dioxide Flows

2001

Journal Article

The measurement of Pitot pressure in high enthalpy expansion tubes

Sutcliffe, MA and Morgan, RG (2001). The measurement of Pitot pressure in high enthalpy expansion tubes. Measurement Science & Technology, 12 (3), 327-334. doi: 10.1088/0957-0233/12/3/312

The measurement of Pitot pressure in high enthalpy expansion tubes

2001

Conference Publication

Establishment of test conditions in the RHYFL-X facility

Stewart, B. S., Morgan, R. G., Jacobs, P.A., Austin, K.J. and Jenkins, D.M. (2001). Establishment of test conditions in the RHYFL-X facility. 37th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 8-11 July, 2001. USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2001-3678

Establishment of test conditions in the RHYFL-X facility

2001

Book Chapter

Free piston-Driven expansion tubes

Morgan, R. G. (2001). Free piston-Driven expansion tubes. Handbook of Shock Waves. (pp. 603-622) edited by Gabi Ben-Dor, Ozer Igra and Tov Elperin. San Diego CA USA: Academic Press.

Free piston-Driven expansion tubes

2001

Conference Publication

Heat transfer behind a step in high enthalpy super-orbital flow

Gai, S.L., Hayne, M. J., Gardner, A., Morgan, R. G. and Mee, D. J. (2001). Heat transfer behind a step in high enthalpy super-orbital flow. 39th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, Nevada, USA, 8-11 January, 2001. USA: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2001-509

Heat transfer behind a step in high enthalpy super-orbital flow

2000

Journal Article

Optical study of a light diaphragm rupture process in an expansion tube

Wegener, Margaret, Sutcliffe, Mark and Morgan, Richard (2000). Optical study of a light diaphragm rupture process in an expansion tube. Shock waves, 10 (3), 167-178. doi: 10.1007/s001930050003

Optical study of a light diaphragm rupture process in an expansion tube

2000

Conference Publication

The RHYFL facility as a high performance expansion tube for scramjet testing

Stewart, B. S., Morgan, R. G., Jacobs, P. A. and Jenkins, D. (2000). The RHYFL facility as a high performance expansion tube for scramjet testing. 21st AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology & Ground Testing, Denver, Colorado, USA, 19-22 June, 2000. Virginia, USA: AIAA. doi: 10.2514/6.2000-2595

The RHYFL facility as a high performance expansion tube for scramjet testing

2000

Conference Publication

Development of X3, A superorbital expansion tube

Morgan R.G. (2000). Development of X3, A superorbital expansion tube. 38th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit 2000, Reno, NV, January 10, 2000-January 13, 2000. Reston, Virigina: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.. doi: 10.2514/6.2000-558

Development of X3, A superorbital expansion tube

2000

Journal Article

High-enthalpy expansion tube experiments with gas injection

Sasoh, A, Morgan, RG, Littleton, BN, McIntyre, TJ and Bishop, AI (2000). High-enthalpy expansion tube experiments with gas injection. AIAA Journal, 38 (12), 2253-2259. doi: 10.2514/2.916

High-enthalpy expansion tube experiments with gas injection

2000

Conference Publication

Simulated atmospheric entry ablation in superorbital flows

Hunt D.C. and Morgan R.G. (2000). Simulated atmospheric entry ablation in superorbital flows. 38th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit 2000, Reno, NV, United States, 10-13 January 2000. doi: 10.2514/6.2000-502

Simulated atmospheric entry ablation in superorbital flows

1999

Conference Publication

Ionisation in hypervelocity flows

Herbrig, H. H., Morgan, R. G., Littleton, B. and McIntyre, T. J. (1999). Ionisation in hypervelocity flows. 22nd International Symposium on Shock Waves, Imperial College, London, UK, 18-23 July, 1999. Southampton, UK: University of Southampton.

Ionisation in hypervelocity flows

1999

Conference Publication

Total radiative and convective heat transfer to re-entry bodies at superorbital velocities

Palmer, R. and Morgan, R. G. (1999). Total radiative and convective heat transfer to re-entry bodies at superorbital velocities. 22nd International Symposium on Shock Waves, Imperial College, London, UK, 18-23 July, 1999. Southampton, UK: University of Southampton.

Total radiative and convective heat transfer to re-entry bodies at superorbital velocities

1999

Journal Article

A two-stage free piston driver

Doolan, C. J. and Morgan, R. G. (1999). A two-stage free piston driver. Shock Waves, 9 (4), 239-248. doi: 10.1007/s001930050161

A two-stage free piston driver

Current funding

  • 2024
    Radiation reconstruction for ExoMars capsule flowfield
    AEDS Sarl
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Advancing the Science of Giant Planet Atmospheric Entry
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2024
    Hypersonic Science and Enabling Technologies - General Support
    Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Group
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 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
  • 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

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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

    Non equilibrium reacting shock layers

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr Chris James

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigation of heat flux and catalycity for giant planet entry

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chris James

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Propulsion System Wake Signatures

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre

  • Doctor Philosophy

    On the Repeatability and Flow Characterisation of Hypersonic Ground Test Facilities

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Rowan Gollan, Dr Carolyn Jacobs, 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

    Investigation of ablation radiation coupling for high speed Earth re-entry

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre, Dr Chris James

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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