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)

81 - 100 of 329 works

2017

Conference Publication

Simulating gas giant entry with increased helium diluent in an expansion tube

James, C. M., Gildfind, D. E., Morgan, R. G., Lewis, S. W. and McIntyre, T. M. (2017). Simulating gas giant entry with increased helium diluent in an expansion tube. 30th International Symposium on Shock Waves, Tel Aviv, Israel, 19-24 July 2015. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-44866-4_104

Simulating gas giant entry with increased helium diluent in an expansion tube

2017

Conference Publication

Development of a fast-response calorimeter heat transfer gauge for hypersonic ground testing

Geraets, Rowland T. Penty, McGilvray, Matthew, Doherty, Luke J., Morgan, Richard G., James, Christopher M., Vanyai, Tristan and Buttsworth, David R. (2017). Development of a fast-response calorimeter heat transfer gauge for hypersonic ground testing. 33rd AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference, Denver, Colorado, 5-9 June 2017. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA.

Development of a fast-response calorimeter heat transfer gauge for hypersonic ground testing

2017

Conference Publication

Preliminary experimental investigation of air radiation in super-orbital expanding flow

Wei, H., Morgan, R. G., Sheikh, U. A., Jacobs, P. A., Gollan, R. J. and McIntyre, T. J. (2017). Preliminary experimental investigation of air radiation in super-orbital expanding flow. International Symposium on Shock Waves, Tel Aviv, Israel, 19-24 July 2015. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-44866-4_8

Preliminary experimental investigation of air radiation in super-orbital expanding flow

2017

Conference Publication

Experimental and numerical investigation of air radiation in superorbital expanding flow

Wei, Han, Morgan, Richard G., McIntyre, Timothy J., Brandis, Aaron M. and Johnston, Christopher O. (2017). Experimental and numerical investigation of air radiation in superorbital expanding flow. 47th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Denver, CO, United States, 5 - 9 June 2017. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2017-4531

Experimental and numerical investigation of air radiation in superorbital expanding flow

2016

Journal Article

Optical thickness measurements of vacuum ultraviolet radiation in the X2 expansion tube

Sheikh, Umar A., Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2016). Optical thickness measurements of vacuum ultraviolet radiation in the X2 expansion tube. AIAA Journal, 54 (8), 2407-2417. doi: 10.2514/1.J054659

Optical thickness measurements of vacuum ultraviolet radiation in the X2 expansion tube

2016

Journal Article

Theoretical approach and experimental verification of the role of diffusive transport under binary scaling conditions

de Crombrugghe, G., Morgan, R. and Chazot, O. (2016). Theoretical approach and experimental verification of the role of diffusive transport under binary scaling conditions. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 97, 675-682. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2016.02.018

Theoretical approach and experimental verification of the role of diffusive transport under binary scaling conditions

2016

Journal Article

Raymond John Stalker 1930-2014

Stalker, Caroline, Morgan, Richard and Tanner, Roger I. (2016). Raymond John Stalker 1930-2014. Historical Records of Australian Science, 27 (1), 70-80. doi: 10.1071/HR15012

Raymond John Stalker 1930-2014

2016

Journal Article

Expansion tunnel experiments of earth reentry flow with surface ablation

Lewis, Steven W., Morgan, Richard G., McIntyre, Timothy J., Alba, Christopher R. and Greendyke, Robert B. (2016). Expansion tunnel experiments of earth reentry flow with surface ablation. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 53 (5), 887-899. doi: 10.2514/1.A33267

Expansion tunnel experiments of earth reentry flow with surface ablation

2016

Conference Publication

Extension of the X3 expansion tube capabilities for Mach 12 scramjet testing: flow condition: development and nozzle optimization

Toniato, P., Gildfind, D. E., Jacobs, P. A. and Morgan, R. G. (2016). Extension of the X3 expansion tube capabilities for Mach 12 scramjet testing: flow condition: development and nozzle optimization. 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 5-8 December 2-16. Perth, Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.

Extension of the X3 expansion tube capabilities for Mach 12 scramjet testing: flow condition: development and nozzle optimization

2016

Journal Article

Numerical modeling of Earth reentry flow with surface ablation

Alba, Christopher R., Greendyke, Robert B., Lewis, Steven W., Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2016). Numerical modeling of Earth reentry flow with surface ablation. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 53 (1), 84-97. doi: 10.2514/1.A33266

Numerical modeling of Earth reentry flow with surface ablation

2016

Conference Publication

Experimental and computational fluid dynamics studies of superorbital earth re-entry

Fahy, Elise J., Gollan, Rowan J., Buttsworth, David R., Jacobs, Peter A. and Morgan, Richard G. (2016). Experimental and computational fluid dynamics studies of superorbital earth re-entry. 46th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Washington, DC, United States, 13 - 17 June 2016. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2016-3532

Experimental and computational fluid dynamics studies of superorbital earth re-entry

2016

Book Chapter

Expansion tubes in Australia

Gildfind, David, Morgan, Richard G. and Jacobs, Peter A. (2016). Expansion tubes in Australia. Experimental methods of shock wave research. (pp. 399-431) edited by Ozer Igra and Friech Seiler. Basel, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-23745-9_13

Expansion tubes in Australia

2016

Conference Publication

Current progress of the development of a Mach 12 scramjet operating condition in the X3 expansion tube

Toniato, Pierpaolo, Gildfind, David and Morgan, Richard G. (2016). Current progress of the development of a Mach 12 scramjet operating condition in the X3 expansion tube. 11th International Workshop on Shock Tube Technology, Gottingen, Germany, 30 June -2 July 2016.

Current progress of the development of a Mach 12 scramjet operating condition in the X3 expansion tube

2016

Conference Publication

Analysis and rebuilding of experiments on a heated carbon graphite model in the X2 expansion tube

Mora-Monteros, Jérémy, Leyland, Pénélope, Hannema, Gwenael, Sheikh, Umar, Fahy, Elise, Morgan, Richard G. and Morgan, Timothy J. (2016). Analysis and rebuilding of experiments on a heated carbon graphite model in the X2 expansion tube. 46th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Washington, DC, United States, 13 - 17 June 2016. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2016-4155

Analysis and rebuilding of experiments on a heated carbon graphite model in the X2 expansion tube

2016

Conference Publication

Development of a new Mach 12 scramjet operating capability in the X3 expansion tube

Toniato, Pierpaolo, Gildfind, David E., Jacobs, Peter A. and Morgan, Richard G. (2016). Development of a new Mach 12 scramjet operating capability in the X3 expansion tube. Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology (APISAT), Cairns, QLD, Australia, 25 – 27 November 2015.

Development of a new Mach 12 scramjet operating capability in the X3 expansion tube

2016

Conference Publication

Expansion tunnel ablation testing in venus entry condition

Banerji, Nikhil, Leyland, Pénélope and Morgan, Richard G. (2016). Expansion tunnel ablation testing in venus entry condition. 46th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Washington, DC, United States, 13 - 17 June 2016. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2016-3231

Expansion tunnel ablation testing in venus entry condition

2016

Conference Publication

Preliminary development of high enthalpy conditions for the X3 expansion tube

Andrianatos, A., Gildfind, D. and Morgan, R. (2016). Preliminary development of high enthalpy conditions for the X3 expansion tube. 20th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 20AFMC, Perth, WA, Australia, 5-8 December 2016. Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.

Preliminary development of high enthalpy conditions for the X3 expansion tube

2016

Conference Publication

The ESA ARC project: Ablation radiation coupling for hypervelocity re-entry with low density type ablators

Leyland, Pénélope, Sheikh, Umar, Duval, Basil, Hermann, Tobias, Loehle, Stefan, McIntyre, Timothy J., Morgan, Richard, Wei, Han, Bouilly, Jean-Marc and Marraffa, Lionel (2016). The ESA ARC project: Ablation radiation coupling for hypervelocity re-entry with low density type ablators. 46th AIAA Thermophysics Conference 2016, Washington, DC United States, 13-17 June 2016. Reston, VA United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA. doi: 10.2514/6.2016-3234

The ESA ARC project: Ablation radiation coupling for hypervelocity re-entry with low density type ablators

2015

Journal Article

A new sliding joint to accommodate recoil of a free-piston-driven expansion tube facility

Gildfind, D.E. and Morgan, Richard G. (2015). A new sliding joint to accommodate recoil of a free-piston-driven expansion tube facility. Shock Waves Journal, 26 (6), 825-833. doi: 10.1007/s00193-015-0609-9

A new sliding joint to accommodate recoil of a free-piston-driven expansion tube facility

2015

Journal Article

Vacuum ultraviolet spectral measurements for superorbital earth entry in X2 expansion tube

Sheikh, Umar A., Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2015). Vacuum ultraviolet spectral measurements for superorbital earth entry in X2 expansion tube. AIAA Journal, 53 (12), 3589-3602. doi: 10.2514/1.J054027

Vacuum ultraviolet spectral measurements for superorbital earth entry in X2 expansion tube

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

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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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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