NASA Glenn Research Center
21000 Brookpark Road, MS 77-1
Cleveland, Ohio 44135

phone: 216.433.8334
email: daniel.e.paxson@nasa.gov

Current Work

Wave Rotor Topping Cycles for Gas Turbine Engines (1991-present):

• Dynamic and steady-state modeling
• Integrated operability assessment
• Novel wave application modeling

Modeling of Combustion Instabilities (1998-present):

• Pulse Detonation Engines (1999-present):
• Dynamic and Limit-Cycle Modeling
• Integrated Operability Assessment

Modeling of Pressure Gain Combustion Systems (2000-present):

• Pulse Detonation Engines
• Resonant Pulse Combustion Engines
• Rotating Detonation Engines
• Internal Combustion Wave Rotors

Past Work/Accomplishments

Previous Research Areas:

• Trailing Edge Film Cooling on Gas Turbine Blades (1984-86)
• Near Wake Turbulence Structures (1986-89)
• Rotor/Stator Wake Interactions in Gas Turbines (1986-89)
• Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump Shaft Seal System Fluid Flows (1990-92)

Awards:

• NASA Space Act Award, Software Release, 2009
• NASA Space Act Awards, Tech Brief, and Software Release, 2008.
• NASA GRC Group Achievement Award, Milestone Achieved: Modeled Instability Frequency Agrees with Experimentally Measured Data, 2008.
• NASA Space Act Awards, Tech Brief, and Software Release 2007.
• NASA Group Achievement Award, "Demonstration of Multiple Mode Combustion Instability and Control in the Single Nozzle Rig", 2005.
• NASA Performance Award, "Technical Support of the Constant Volume Combustion Cycle Project and Leadership in the Development of Unsteady Ejector Technologies", 2005.
• NASA Space Act Award, "Time-Accurate Quasi-One Dimensional Reactive Code for Design And Analysis Of Gas Dynamic-Based Propulsion Systems", 2004.
• NASA GRC Special Achievement Award, Technical Leadership in Investigating Thrust Augmentation With Ejectors for Unsteady Propulsion Systems, 2003.
• NASA Group Achievement Award, Successful Demonstration of Active Combustion Control in an Engine-Like Environment, 2003.
• NASA GRC Special Achievement Award, Leadership in Modeling and Experimental Validation of Ejector Augmentor Concepts, 2002.
• NASA GRC Group Achievement Award, Development of Active Combustion Control Fuel Actuator Characterization Rig, 2002.
• Cleveland Federal Executive Board Wings of Excellence Award for Outstanding Public Service, 2001
• NASA GRC Superior Accomplishment Award, Simulation and Modeling Contributions to Pulse Detonation Engine Technology Project, 2000
• NASA GRC Team Achievement Award, Technical Contributions to Active Combustion Control Rig Development, 2000
• NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Development and Application of Wave Rotor Technology, 1999.
• NASA GRC Superior Accomplishment Award, Investigation of Wave Rotor Dynamics and Support of the Wave Rotor Program, 1997.
• NASA Lewis Awareness Team Achievement Award-Wave Rotor Phase IIa Team, 1996.
• SAE Manly Memorial Award for Distinguished Publication, with Jack Wilson , 1996
• NASA Lewis.Awareness Team Achievement Award-Wave Rotor Phase I Team, 1995
• NASA Space Act Award, Tech Brief Publication, 1995.
• NASA Lewis Division Distinguished Publication Award, 1993.
• 6 Patents: Wave Rotor Wave Cancellation Method and System, 1993, Wave Diffuser, 1999, Wave Rotor Cold Gas Reinjection Method, 1999, Metallic Thermal Spray Coating Method and Sytem Using Resonant Pulsed Combustion, 2010-2014.

Invited Activities:

• Subject Matter Expert-Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Department of Energy, Air Force Research Laboratory
• Columbia University Graduate Seminar: Pressure-Gain Combustion for the Gas Turbine, October, 2012
• DOE University Turbine Systems Research Workshop: Pressure-Gain Combustion for the Gas Turbine, October, 2010
• DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory Seminar: Pressure-Gain Combustion for the Gas Turbine, March, 2010
• ASME Internal Mechanical engineering Congress-Wave Rotor Technology, 2004
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Short-Course Instructor, January 2003, July, 2003, July 2010, July 2015
• General Electric Research and Development Center-Wave Rotor Topping Cycles, 2002
• Advanced Gas Turbine Systems Research Combustion Workshop-Wave Rotor Topping Cycles, 1996
• Georgia Institute of Technology-Wave Rotors, 1996
• Texas A & M University-Wave Rotors, 1994

Publications

Paxson, D.E., "Impact of an Exhaust Throat on Semi-Idealized Rotating Detonation Engine Performance," AIAA-2016-1647, January, 2016.

Paxson, D.E., "Pressure Gain Combustion," McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology, McGraw-Hill, pp. 250-253, 2015.

Paxson, D.E., Fotia, M.L., Hoke, J. L., Schauer, F. R., "Comparison of Numerically Simulated and Experimentally Measured Performance of a Rotating Detonation Engine," AIAA paper 2015-1101, January, 2015.

Paxson, D.E., Mehta, V.R., " Using the NASA GRC Sectored-One-Dimensional Combustor Simulation," NASA/TM-2014-216623.

Paxson, D.E., "Numerical Analysis of a Rotating Detonation Engine in the Relative Reference Frame," AIAA-2014-0284, January, 2014, also NASA/TM—2014-216634.

Paxson, D.E., Kaemming, T.H., "Influence of Unsteadiness on the Analysis of Pressure Gain Combustion Devices," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 30, No. 2, 2014, pp. 377-383, also AIAA-2013-0280, January, 2013, also NASA/TM—2013-217831.

Paxson, D.E., Hoke, J.L., "Time Averaged Pressure Measurement in Fundamentally Unsteady Pressure Gain Combustion Systems," in Proc. JANNAF 45th Combustion Subcommittee, 33rd Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee, 27th Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee, Monterey, CA, December, 2012, also NASA/TM—2013-217826, January, 2013.

Paxson, D.E., Kaemming, T.H., "Foundational Performance Analyses of Pressure Gain Combustion Thermodynamic Benefits for Gas Turbines," AIAA-2012-770, January, 2012.

Paxson, D.E., Naples, A.G., Hoke, J.L., Schauer, F. "Numerical Analysis of a Pulse Detonation Cross Flow Heat Load Experiment," AIAA-2011-584, January, 2011.

Paxson, D.E., "A Simplified Model for Detonation Based Pressure-Gain Combustors," AIAA 2010-6717, July, 2010.

Paxson, D.E., Schauer, F., and Hopper, D., "Performance Impact of Deflagration to Detonation Transition Enhancing Obstacles," AIAA 2009-502, January, 2009.

Paxson, D.E., “Progress in Government-Developed Pulse Detonation Engine Performance Codes,” in Proc. JANNAF 43nd Combustion Subcommittee, 31st Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee, 25th Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee, La Jolla, CA, December, 2009.

Paxson, D.E., Brophy, C.M. and Bruening, G.B., "Performance Evaluation of a Pulse Detonation Combustion Based Propulsion System Using Multiple Methods, " JANNAF Journal of Propulsion and Energetics, Vol. 3, No. 1, May, 2010, pp 44-54, also in Proc. JANNAF 42nd Combustion Subcommittee, 30th Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee, 30th Exhaust Plume Technology Subcommittee, 24th Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee, 12th SPIRITS User Group Joint Meeting, Newton, MA, JSC CD-53 (CD ROM) CPIAC Abstract No. 2008-0006BW, May 2008.

Paxson, D.E., Dougherty, K.T., "Operability of an Ejector Enhanced Pulse Combustor in a Gas Turbine Environment," AIAA 2008-119, January, 2008.

Paxson, D.E., Wilson, J., Welch, G.E., "Comparison Between Simulated and Experimentally Measured Performance of a Four Port Wave Rotor," AIAA 2007-5049, July, 2007.

Paxson, D. E., Litke, P. J., et. al., "Performance Assessment of a Large Scale Pulsejet-Driven Ejector System," AIAA paper 2006-1021, January, 2006.

Paxson, D. E., Dougherty, K.,"Ejector Enhanced Pulsejet Based Pressure Gain Combustors: An Old Idea With A New Twist," AIAA paper 2005-4216, July, 2005.

Paxson, D. E. and Perkins, H. D., "Thermal Load Considerations for Detonative Combustion-Based Gas Turbine Engines," AIAA-2004-3396, July, 2004.

Paxson, D. E., "Performance Evaluation Method for Ideal Airbreathing Pulse Detonation Engines," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 20, No. 5, 2004, pp. 945-947.

Paxson, D. E., Wernet, M. P. John, W. T., "An Experimental Investigation of Unsteady Thrust Augmentation Using a Speaker-Driven Jet," AIAA Journal, Vol. 45, No. 3, March, 2007, pp. 607-615, also AIAA paper 2004–0092, January, 2004.

Paxson, D. E., "Optimal Area Profiles for Ideal Single Nozzle Air-Breathing Pulse Detonation Engines," AIAA paper 2003–4512, July, 2003.

Paxson, D. E., Wilson, J., and Dougherty, K., "Unsteady Ejector Performance: An Experimental Investigation Using a Pulsejet Driver," AIAA paper 2002-3915, July, 2002.

Paxson, D. E., "A Performance Map for Ideal Air-Breathing Pulse Detonation Engines," AIAA paper 2001-3465, July, 2001.

Paxson, D. E., "A Sectored-One-Dimensional Model for Simulating Combustion Instabilities in Premix Combustors," AIAA paper 2000-0313, January, 2000.

Paxson, D. E. and Nalim M. R., "A Modified Through-Flow Wave Rotor Cycle With Combustor Bypass Ducts," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 15, No. 3, 1999, pp. 462-467.

Paxson, D. E., "An Incidence Loss Model for Wave Rotors With Axially Aligned Passages," AIAA paper 98-3251, July, 1998.

Paxson, D. E. and Skoch, G. J., "Wave Augmented Diffusers for Centrifugal Compressors," AIAA paper 98-3401, July, 1998.

Paxson, D. E., "A Numerical Investigation of the Startup Transient in a Wave Rotor," ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 119, No. 3, 1997, pp. 676-682, also ASME Paper 96-GT-115, June, 1997.

Paxson, D. E. and Lindau, J. W., "Numerical Assessment of Four-Port, Through-Flow Wave Rotor Cycles With Passage Height Variation," AIAA paper 97-3143, July, 1997.

Paxson, D. E., "Numerical Simulation of Dynamic Wave Rotor Performance," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 12, No. 5, 1996, pp. 949-957.

Paxson, D. E., "A Comparison Between Numerically Modelled and Experimentally Measured Loss Mechanisms in Wave Rotors," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 11, No. 5, 1995, pp. 908-914.

Paxson, D. E. And Wilson, J., "Recent Improvements to and Validation of the One Dimensional NASA Wave Rotor Model," NASA TM 106913, May, 1995.

Paxson, D. E., "An Improved Numerical Model for Wave Rotor Design and Analysis," AIAA Paper 93-0482, January, 1993.

Paxson, D. E., "A General Numerical Model for Wave Rotor Analysis," NASA TM 105740, July, 1992.

Paxson, D. E., and Mayle, R. E., "Laminar Boundary Layer Interaction With an Unsteady Passing Wake," ASME Journal Turbomachinery, Vol. 113, No. 3, July, 1991, pp. 419-427.

Paxson, D. E., and Mayle, R. E., "Velocity Measurements on the Forward Portion of a Cylinder," ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 112, No. 2, June, 1990, pp. 243-245.

Paxson, D. E., "A Model for the Space Shuttle Main Engine High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump Shaft Seal System," NASA TM 103697, November, 1990.

Paxson, D. E., and Mayle, R. E., "The Influence of a Mainstream Thermal Boundary Layer on Film Effectiveness," ASME Journal Turbomachinery, Vol. 3, No. 4, October, 1989.

Battelle, R. Bruening, G. B., Paxson, D. E., Schauer, F. R., "Pressure Gain Combustion Technology Risk Reduction, Part A," in Proc. JANNAF 43nd Combustion Subcommittee, 31st Airbreathing Propulsion Subcommittee, 25th Propulsion Systems Hazards Subcommittee, La Jolla, CA, December, 2009.

DeLaat, John C., Paxson, Daniel E. " Characterization and Simulation of the Thermoacoustic Instability Behavior of an Advanced, Low Emissions Combustor Prototype," AIAA paper 2008-4878, July, 2008.

DeLaat, John C., Breisacher, Kevin J., Saus, Joseph R., and Paxson, Daniel E. "Active Control for Aircraft Gas Turbine Engines," AIAA paper 2000-3500, July, 2000.

Fernandez, R., Slater, J., Paxson, D.E., "Pulsed Ejector Wave Propagation Test Program," Confined Detonations an Pulse Detonation Engines, Gabriel Roy, Ed., Torus Press, 2003.

Geng, T., Zheng, F., Kuznetsov, A. V., Roberts, W. L., Paxson, D. E., et al, "Comparison Between Numerically Simulated and Experimentally Measured Flowfield Quantities Behind a Pulsejet, Flow," Turbulence and Combustion, Vol. 84, No. 4, pp. 653-667, May 2010, also AIAA paper 2008-5046, July, 2008.

Greendyke, R. B., Paxson, D. E., and Schobeiri, M. T., "Dynamic Simulation of a Wave Rotor Topped Turboshaft Engine," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 16, No. 5, 2000, pp. 792-796.

Hopper, D.R., King, P. I., Hoke, J. L., Paxson, D. E., Schauer, F. R., "Detonation Initiation and Propagation in a Branched Detonation-Pulsed Detonation Engine," JANNAF Journal of Propulsion and Energetics, Vol. 3, No. 1, May, 2010, pp 55-69.

John, Wentworth T., Paxson, D. E., and Wernet, Mark P., "Conditionally Sampled Pulsejet Driven Ejector Flow Field Using DPIV,” AIAA paper 2002-3231, June, 2002.

Jones, S. M., Paxson, D. E., "Potential Benefits to Commercial Propulsion Systems from Pressure Gain Combustion, " AIAA 2013-3623, July, 2013.

Kopasakis, G., Connolly, J. W., Paxson, D. E., Ma, P., "Volume Dynamics Propulsion System Modeling for Supersonics Vehicle Research," ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, Vol. 132, No. 4, 2010, pp. 1003-1010.

Kopasakis, G., Connolly, J. W., Paxson, D. E., Woolwine, K., "Quasi 1D Modeling of Mixed Compression Supersonic Inlets," AIAA paper 2012-775, January, 2012.

Litke, P. J., Paxson, D. E., Schauer, F. R., Bradley, R. P., Hoke, J. L., "Assessment of the Performance of a Pulsejet an Comparison with a Pulsed-Detonation Engine, " AIAA paper 2005-0228, January, 2005.

Litt, J. S., Paxson, D.E., Musgrave, J.L., Guo, T.H., "An Object-Oriented Graphical User Interface for a Reusable Rocket Engine Intelligent Control System," NASA TM 106750, October, 1994.

Mataczynski, M. R., Paxson, D. E., Polanka, M. D., Hoke, J. L., "Experimental Performance of a Small Scale Pressure Wave Supercharger," AIAA 2016-0768, January, 2016.

Mataczynski, M. R., Polanka, M. D., Nees, J., Paxson, D. E., "Validation and Simulation of a Small-Scale Pressure Wave Supercharger," AIAA paper 2015-1345, January, 2015.

Mataczynski, M. R., Hoke, J. L., Paxson, D. E., Polanka, M. D., "Design, Simulation, and Testing of a Pressure Wave Supercharger for a Small Internal Combustion Engine," SAE 2014-01-2136, September, 2014.

Mataczynski, M. R., Polanka, M. D., Hoke, J. L., and Paxson, D. E., " Design and Implementation of Waverotor Technology for Small-Bore Two-Stroke Internal Combustion Engines," AIAA 2014-0528, January, 2014.

Mattern, D., Paxson, D., "Static Flow Characteristics of a Mass Flow Injecting Valve," NASA TM 107072, November, 1995.

McClearn, M. J., Polanka, M. D., Mataczynski, M. R., Schauer, F. R., Paxson, D. E., "The Design of a Small-Scale Wave Rotor for Use As a Modified Brayton-Cycle Engine," AIAA paper 2016-0901, January, 2016.

Musgrave, J.L., Paxson, D.E., Litt, J.S., Merrill, W.C., "A Demonstration of an Intelligent Control System for a Reusable Rocket Engine," Proceedings of the Advanced Earth-to-Orbit Propulsion Technology Conference, Huntsville AL, May, 19-21, 1992.

Nalim, R. M., and Paxson, D. E., "A Numerical Investigation of Premixed Combustion in Wave Rotors," ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 119, No. 3, 1997, pp. 668-675, also ASME Paper 96-GT-116, June, 1996.

Naples, A. G., Hoke, J. L., Paxson, D. E., Schauer, F. R., "Operation and Control of a Pulsejet with High Pressure Liquid Fuel Injection," AIAA paper 2010-209, January, 2010.

Opalski, A. B., Paxson, D. E., and Wernet, M. P., "Detonation Driven Ejector Exhaust Flow Characterization Using Planar DPIV," AIAA paper 2005-4379, July, 2005.

Perkins, H. D., Paxson, D. E., et. al., "An Assessment of Pulse Detonation Engine Performance Estimation Methods Based On Experimental Results," AIAA paper 2005-3831, July, 2005.

Quinn, D. D., Paxson, D. E., "A Simplified Model for the Investigation of Acoustically Driven Combustion Instabilities," AIAA paper 98-3764, July, 1998.

Rankin, B., Fotia, M. L., Paxson, D. E., Hoke, J. L., Schauer, F. R., "Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Pressure Gain Combustion in a Rotating Detonation Engine," AIAA paper 2015-0877, January, 2015.

Steuber, T. J., Paxson, D. E., "NASA One-Dimensional Combustor Simulation—User Manual for S1D_ML," NASA/TM 2014-218387, October, 2014.

Smith, B. D., Polanka, M. D., Paxson, D. E., and Hoke, J. L., "Scaling Study of Wave Rotor Turbo Normalization of an Internal Combustion Engine, " AIAA 2012-3837, July, 2012.

Theuerkauf, S. W., Schauer, F. R., Anthony, R. J., Paxson, D. E., Stevens, C. A. Hoke, J. L., "Comparison of Simulated and Measured Instantaneous Heat Flux in a Rotating Detonation Engine," AIAA 2016-1200, January, 2016.

Welch, G. E., Jones, S. M., Paxson, D. E., "Wave-Rotor-Enhanced Gas Turbine Engines," ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 119, No. 2, 1997, pp. 469-477.

Welch, G. E., Paxson, D. E., "Wave Turbine Analysis Tool Development," AIAA paper 98-3402, July, 1998.

Welch, Gerard E., Paxson, Daniel E., Wilson, Jack, and Snyder, Philip H., "Wave-Rotor-Enhanced Gas Turbine Engine Demonstrator," prepared for the Gas Turbine Operation and Technology for Land, Sea, and Air Propulsion and Power System Symposium, paper ARL-TR-2113, October, 1999, also NASA TM-1999-209459.

Wilson, J., Welch, G.E., Paxson, D.E., "Experimental Results of Performance Tests on a Four-Port Wave Rotor," NASA TM 2007-214488, also ARL–TR–4044, also AIAA 2007-1250, January, 2007.

Wilson, J., Wernet, M. P., Paxson, D. E., "Vortex rings in a Shrouded Hartmann-Sprenger Tube," AIAA Journal, Vol. 44, No. 11, Nov. 2006, pp. 2706-2719.

Wilson, J., Sgondea, A., Paxson, D. E., Rosenthal, B. N. " Parametric Investigation of Thrust Augmentation by Ejectors on a Pulsed Detonation Tube," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 23, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2007, pp. 108-115, also AIAA paper 2005-4208, July, 2005.

Wilson, J. and Paxson, D. E., " Unsteady Ejector Performance: An Experimental Investigation Using a Resonance Tube Driver," AIAA paper 2002-3632, July, 2002.

Wilson, J. and Paxson, D. E., "On the Exit Boundary Conditions for One-dimensional Calculations of Pulsed Detonation Engine Performance," presented at the 18th International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Seattle, WA, July, 2001.

Wilson, J. and Paxson, D. E., "Wave Rotor Optimization for Gas Turbine Engine Topping Cycles," AIAA Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 12, No. 4, 1996, pp. 778-785.

Wilson, J., and Paxson, D. E., "Jet Engine Performance Enhancement Through The Use of a Wave-Rotor Topping Cycle," NASA TM 4486, October, 1993.

Yungster, S., Paxson, D. E., Perkins, H. D., "Parametric Study of Pulse-Combustor-Driven Ejectors at High-Pressure," AIAA 2015-4190, July, 2015.

Yungster, S., Paxson, D. E., Perkins, H. D., "Effect of Fuel Injection and Mixing Characteristics on Pulse-Combustor Performance at High-Pressure," AIAA 2014-3728, July, 2014.

Yungster, S., Paxson, D. E., Perkins, H. D., "Computational Study of Pulsejet-Driven Pressure Gain Combustors at High-Pressure," AIAA 2013-3709, July, 2013.

Zheng, F., Paxson, D. E., Kuznetsov, A. V., Roberts, W. L., "Influence of Geometry on Starting Vortex and Ejector Performance," ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 133, No. 5, pp. 051204-1, 8 pages, May, 2011.

Zheng, F., Paxson, D. E., Kuznetsov, A. V., Roberts, W. L., "Numerical Study of a Pulsejet-Driven Ejector ," AIAA 2009-5185, August, 2009.

Biography

Education

• Doctorate: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., 1990, Mechanical Engineering
• Masters: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., 1987, Mechanical Engineering
• Bachelor of Engineering: Vanderbilt University, Nashville Tennessee, 1984, Mechanical Engineering

Work Experience

• General Motors Research Center, Warren Michigan, 1982-84
• Gas Turbine Laboratory, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, 1984-90
• NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, 1990-present

Interests

Practically everything, but in particular my family, cycling, furniture building, wave rotors.

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