Koutsakis Research Group
Propulsion, Heat Transfer and Materials
About The Research Group
Space dominance depends on propulsion systems, and heat transfer often limits the overall efficiency of said devices. A number of applications rely on multilayer architectures to improve the inevitable trade-off between heat transfer and mechanical integrity. There remain significant heat transfer and solid mechanics problems related to the performance of multilayers that impact an array of devices, see Figure.
We aim to understand the coupled processes of heat transfer, fracture mechanics, and propulsion materials at gas-wall interfaces, with a particular focus on multilayered materials for heat transfer in extreme environments.
Research Interests
Our ongoing research focuses on three principal areas:
- Propulsion—covering rockets, gas turbines, and rotating detonation engines
- Heat Transfer—including conduction, convection, and radiation
- Materials—with a focus on ceramics and metals.
For a complete list of publications, please refer to the PI’s Google Scholar page.
Sponsors
