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)

141 - 160 of 327 works

2013

Journal Article

Hot-Wall Reentry Testing in Hypersonic Impulse Facilities

Zander, F., Morgan, R. G., Sheikh, U., Buttsworth, D. R. and Teakle, P. R. (2013). Hot-Wall Reentry Testing in Hypersonic Impulse Facilities. AIAA Journal, 51 (2), 476-484. doi: 10.2514/1.J051867

Hot-Wall Reentry Testing in Hypersonic Impulse Facilities

2013

Conference Publication

Vacuum ultraviolet and ultraviolet emission spectroscopy measurements for Titan and Mars atmospheric entry conditions

Porat, Hadas, Sheikh, Umar A., Morgan, Richard G., Eichmann, Troy N. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2013). Vacuum ultraviolet and ultraviolet emission spectroscopy measurements for Titan and Mars atmospheric entry conditions. 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, San Diego, CA, USA, 24-27 June, 2013. Red Hook, NY, USA: Curran Associates. doi: 10.2514/6.2013-2647

Vacuum ultraviolet and ultraviolet emission spectroscopy measurements for Titan and Mars atmospheric entry conditions

2013

Conference Publication

Design, operation and testing in expansion tube facilities for super-orbital re-entry

Jacobs, Peter, Morgan, Richard, Brandis, Aaron, Buttsworth, David, Dann, Andrew, D'Souza, Mary, Eichmann, Troy, Gildfind, David, Gollan, Rowan, Jacobs, Carolyn, McGilvray, Matthew, McIntyre, Tim, Mudford, Neil, Porat, Hadas, Potter, Dan and Zander, Fabian (2013). Design, operation and testing in expansion tube facilities for super-orbital re-entry. STO-AVT-VKI Lecture Series Radiation and Gas-Surface Interaction Phenomena in High Speed Re-Entry (2013-AVT-218), Rhode-St-Genèse, Belgium, 6-8 May 2013.

Design, operation and testing in expansion tube facilities for super-orbital re-entry

2013

Conference Publication

Through surface and across surface vacuum ultraviolet spectral measurements in an expansion tube

Sheikh, Umar A., Morgan, Richard G., McIntyre, Timothy J. and Laux, Christophe O. (2013). Through surface and across surface vacuum ultraviolet spectral measurements in an expansion tube. 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, San Diego, United States, 24-27 June 2013. Red Hook, NY, USA: Curran Associates. doi: 10.2514/6.2013-2644

Through surface and across surface vacuum ultraviolet spectral measurements in an expansion tube

2013

Journal Article

Near-Ultraviolet Emission Spectroscopy of the Hayabusa Reentry

Buttsworth, David, Morgan, Richard and Jenniskens, Peter (2013). Near-Ultraviolet Emission Spectroscopy of the Hayabusa Reentry. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 50 (6), 1109-1120. doi: 10.2514/1.A32500

Near-Ultraviolet Emission Spectroscopy of the Hayabusa Reentry

2013

Conference Publication

Radiation in low density hypervelocity flows: application to Titan entry

Jacobs, Carolyn, MacDonald, M. E., Zander, F., Morgan, R. G. and Laux, C. O. (2013). Radiation in low density hypervelocity flows: application to Titan entry. ARA 2013: 4th International ARA Days, Arcachon, France, 27-29 May, 2013.

Radiation in low density hypervelocity flows: application to Titan entry

2013

Conference Publication

Vacuum ultraviolet radiation studies in a plasma torch facility

Jacobs, C. M., Sheikh, U. A., MacDonald, M. E., Morgan R. G. and Laux, C. O. (2013). Vacuum ultraviolet radiation studies in a plasma torch facility. EUCASS 2013: 5th European Conference for Aeronautics and Space Sciences, Munich, Germany, 1-4 July, 2013.

Vacuum ultraviolet radiation studies in a plasma torch facility

2013

Conference Publication

Measurements of air plasma/ablator interactions in a 50 kW inductively coupled plasma torch

MacDonald, Megan E., Jacobs, Carolyn M., Laux, Christophe O. and Morgan, Richard G. (2013). Measurements of air plasma/ablator interactions in a 50 kW inductively coupled plasma torch. 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, San Diego, United States, 24-27 June 2013. Red Hook, NY, USA: Curran Associates. doi: 10.2514/6.2013-2772

Measurements of air plasma/ablator interactions in a 50 kW inductively coupled plasma torch

2013

Conference Publication

Ablation/radiation studies in the Ecole Centrale plasma torch facility

Jacobs, C., MacDonald, M., Zander, F., Morgan, R. and Laux, C.O. (2013). Ablation/radiation studies in the Ecole Centrale plasma torch facility. ATW13: 4th Aerospace Thematic Workshop, Aussois, France, 7-12 April, 2013.

Ablation/radiation studies in the Ecole Centrale plasma torch facility

2013

Conference Publication

Theoretical validation of a test gas substitution for expansion tube simulation of gas giant entry

James, Christopher M., Gildfind, David E., Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2013). Theoretical validation of a test gas substitution for expansion tube simulation of gas giant entry. 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, San Diego, United States, 24-27 June 2013. Red Hook, NY, USA: Curran Associates. doi: 10.2514/6.2013-2506

Theoretical validation of a test gas substitution for expansion tube simulation of gas giant entry

2013

Conference Publication

Designing and simulating high enthalpy expansion tube conditions

James, Chris, Gildfind, David, Morgan, Richard G., Jacobs, Peter A. and Zander, Fabian (2013). Designing and simulating high enthalpy expansion tube conditions. APISAT 2013: 2013 Asia-Pacific International Symposium on Aerospace Technology, Takamatsu, Japan, 20-22 November 2013. Takamatsu, Japan: Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences.

Designing and simulating high enthalpy expansion tube conditions

2013

Conference Publication

Characterization of a 50 kW Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch for use in Testing of Ablative Materials

MacDonald, M. E., Jacobs, C. M., Laux, C. O., Zander, F. and Morgan, R.G. (2013). Characterization of a 50 kW Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch for use in Testing of Ablative Materials. 7th European Workshop on Thermal Protection Systems and Hot Structures, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 8 - 10 April 2013.

Characterization of a 50 kW Inductively Coupled Plasma Torch for use in Testing of Ablative Materials

2013

Conference Publication

Vacuum ultraviolet radiation studies in a plasma torch facility from 170-200 nm

Jacobs, C. M., Sheikh, U. A., MacDonald, M. E., Laux, C. O. and Morgan, R. G. (2013). Vacuum ultraviolet radiation studies in a plasma torch facility from 170-200 nm. 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, San Diego, United States, 24-27 June 2013. Red Hook, NY, USA: Curran Associates. doi: 10.2514/6.2013-3015

Vacuum ultraviolet radiation studies in a plasma torch facility from 170-200 nm

2013

Conference Publication

Re-entry radiative heating studies in vacuum ultraviolet

Sheikh, U. A., Morgan, R. G., McIntyre, T. J. and Laux, C. O. (2013). Re-entry radiative heating studies in vacuum ultraviolet. ATW13: 4th Aerospace Thematic Workshop, Aussois, France, 7-12 April, 2013.

Re-entry radiative heating studies in vacuum ultraviolet

2012

Conference Publication

Standing shock formation in a non-reflected shock tube

Morgan, R. G., Sheikh, U. A. and Gildfind, D. E. (2012). Standing shock formation in a non-reflected shock tube. International Symposium on Shock Waves (28th, ISSW28), Manchester, U.K., 17-22 July 2011. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-25685-1_87

Standing shock formation in a non-reflected shock tube

2012

Conference Publication

Simulation of high mach number scramjet flow conditions using the X2 expansion tube

Gildfind, David E., Morgan, Richard G., McGilvray, Matthew and Jacobs, Peter (2012). Simulation of high mach number scramjet flow conditions using the X2 expansion tube. 18th AIAA/3AF International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Tours, France, 24-28 September 2012. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2012-5954

Simulation of high mach number scramjet flow conditions using the X2 expansion tube

2012

Conference Publication

Study of radiative heat transfer in titan atmospheric entry

Porat, Hadas, Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2012). Study of radiative heat transfer in titan atmospheric entry. 28th International Congress of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS 2012), Brisbane, Australia, 23-28 September 2012. United Kingdom: International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS).

Study of radiative heat transfer in titan atmospheric entry

2012

Conference Publication

High speed imaging of spherical shock standoff in hypervelocity flows

Zander, F., Jacobs, P. A., Sheikh, U. A. and Morgan, R. G. (2012). High speed imaging of spherical shock standoff in hypervelocity flows. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Launceston, Australia, 3-7 December 2012. Hawthorn, Vic., Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.

High speed imaging of spherical shock standoff in hypervelocity flows

2012

Conference Publication

VUV radiation measurements for radiation ablation coupling

Leyland, Pénélope, McIntyre, Timothy J., Sheikh, Umar, Eichmann, Troy N., Morgan, Richard G., Loehle, Stefan, Hermann, Tobias, De Filippis, Federico, Trifoni, Eduardo and Cillo, Giovanni (2012). VUV radiation measurements for radiation ablation coupling. 5th International Workshop on Radiation of High Temperature Gases in Atmospheric Entry, Barcelona, Spain, 16-19 October 2012. Noordwijk, The Netherlands : ESA Communications .

VUV radiation measurements for radiation ablation coupling

2012

Conference Publication

Vibration isolation in a free-piston driven Expansion tube

Gildfind, D. E., Morgan, R. G. and Jacobs, P. A. (2012). Vibration isolation in a free-piston driven Expansion tube. 18th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Launceston, Australia, 3-7 December 2012. Hawthorn, VIC, Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.

Vibration isolation in a free-piston driven Expansion tube

Current funding

  • 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

  • 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
  • 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

  • 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

    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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Propulsion System Wake Signatures

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tim McIntyre

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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