Research Activity on Rocket-Ramjet Combined-cycle Engine in JAXA

Recent activities on the scramjet and rocket-ramjet combined-cycle engine of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA) are herein presented. The scramjet engines and combined-cycle engines have been studied in the world and JAXA has also studied such the engines experimentally, numerically and conceptually. Based on the studies, 2 to 3 m long, hydrogen-fueled engine models were designed and tested at the Ramjet Engine Test Facility(RJTF) and the High Enthalpy Shock Tunnel(HIEST). A scramjet engine model was tested in Mach 10 to 14 flight condition at HIEST. A 3 m long scramjet engine model was designed to reduce a dissociation energy loss in a high temperature condition. Drag reduction by a tangential injection and two ways of a transverse fuel injection were examined. Combustor model tests at three operating modes of the combined-cycle engine were conducted, demonstrating the combustor operation and producing data for the engine design at each mode. Aerodynamic engine model tests were conducted in a transonic wind tunnel, demonstrating the engine operation in the ejector-jet mode. A 3 m long combined-cycle engine model has been tested in the ejector-jet mode and the ramjet mode since March 2007. Carbon composite material was examined for application to the engines. Production of the cooling channel on a nickel alloy plate succeeded by the electro-chemical etching.