Dr Tristan Vanyai's research interests are in the fields of hypersonic propulsion, aerodynamics, combustion visualisation and laser diagnostics, using both experimental and numerical techniques.
Dr Vanyai received his Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland in 2018, after completing a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Science double degree at Monash University in 2012.
His research focuses on fundamentals of hypersonic propulsion through the scramjet cycle. Robust combustion within low intake compression scramjets is a key technology enabler for hypersonic accelerator vehicles, and can be achieved through utilising techniques such as thermal compression. Dr Vanyai is examining the improvements to scramjet combustion due to thermal compression through experiments in the T4 Stalker Tube facility using advanced optical techniques and comparison with results from numerical simulations.
Journal Article: OH visualization of ethylene combustion modes in the exhaust of a fundamental, supersonic combustor
Vanyai, Tristan, Landsberg, Will O., McIntyre, Timothy J. and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2021). OH visualization of ethylene combustion modes in the exhaust of a fundamental, supersonic combustor. Combustion and Flame, 226, 143-155. doi: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2020.11.037
Journal Article: Thermal compression effects within a fundamental, hydrogen-fuelled scramjet
Vanyai, Tristan, Brieschenk, Stefan, Bricalli, Mathew, Sopek, Tamara and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2021). Thermal compression effects within a fundamental, hydrogen-fuelled scramjet. Aerospace Science and Technology, 110 106499, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2021.106499
Journal Article: Dual/scram-mode combustion limits of ethylene and surrogate endothermically-cracked hydrocarbon fuels at Mach 8 equivalent high-enthalpy conditions
Landsberg, Will O., Vanyai, Tristan, McIntyre, Timothy J. and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2020). Dual/scram-mode combustion limits of ethylene and surrogate endothermically-cracked hydrocarbon fuels at Mach 8 equivalent high-enthalpy conditions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38 (3), 3835-3843. doi: 10.1016/j.proci.2020.07.003
Journal Article: Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel
Vanyai, Tristan, Grieve, Sam, Street, Oliver, Denman, Zachary, McIntyre, Timothy, Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan, Wheatley, Vincent and Smart, Michael (2019). Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 35 (5), 953-963. doi: 10.2514/1.B37472
Journal Article: Scramjet performance for ideal combustion processes
Vanyai, Tristan, Bricalli, Mathew, Brieschenk, Stefan and Boyce, Russell R. (2018). Scramjet performance for ideal combustion processes. Aerospace Science and Technology, 75, 215-226. doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2017.12.021
Conference Publication: An experimental investigation of a thermal compression scramjet with OH imaging
Vanyai, Tristan , Bricalli, Mathew , Sopek, Tamara , Brieschenk, Stefan , McIntyre, Timothy J. and Boyce, Russell (2015). An experimental investigation of a thermal compression scramjet with OH imaging. 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 6-9 July 2015. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2015-3610
(2023–2025) United States Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development
Investigating Cascaded Injection of Ethylene Under Hypersonic Inlet Conditions
Doctor Philosophy
Experimental Investigation of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Combustion of Hydrocarbon Fuels
Doctor Philosophy
Injection of Supercritical and Near-Critical Fluids into Supersonic Crossflow
Doctor Philosophy
Thermal compression scramjet performance over an access-to-space trajectory
Dr Tristan Vanyai has funding for a PHD project examining performance of fundamental scramjet engines. By encouraging non-uniformity in a scramjet flow path, local regions can become hot enough to ignite fuel-air mixtures in combustors that would otherwise have average, overall temperatures that are too low. This process has been shown numerically and experimentally to improve performance for hydrogen fuel at specific flight conditions, however we must examine whether an access-to-space vehicle’s performance is improved over the full hypersonic trajectory. In this project, a student will conduct numerical simulations and/or experiments with combustion visualisation to examine performance improvements over a baseline, uniform flow path.
If you are interested in this topic, please contact t.vanyai@uq.edu.au
OH visualization of ethylene combustion modes in the exhaust of a fundamental, supersonic combustor
Vanyai, Tristan, Landsberg, Will O., McIntyre, Timothy J. and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2021). OH visualization of ethylene combustion modes in the exhaust of a fundamental, supersonic combustor. Combustion and Flame, 226, 143-155. doi: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2020.11.037
Thermal compression effects within a fundamental, hydrogen-fuelled scramjet
Vanyai, Tristan, Brieschenk, Stefan, Bricalli, Mathew, Sopek, Tamara and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2021). Thermal compression effects within a fundamental, hydrogen-fuelled scramjet. Aerospace Science and Technology, 110 106499, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2021.106499
Landsberg, Will O., Vanyai, Tristan, McIntyre, Timothy J. and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2020). Dual/scram-mode combustion limits of ethylene and surrogate endothermically-cracked hydrocarbon fuels at Mach 8 equivalent high-enthalpy conditions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38 (3), 3835-3843. doi: 10.1016/j.proci.2020.07.003
Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel
Vanyai, Tristan, Grieve, Sam, Street, Oliver, Denman, Zachary, McIntyre, Timothy, Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan, Wheatley, Vincent and Smart, Michael (2019). Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 35 (5), 953-963. doi: 10.2514/1.B37472
Scramjet performance for ideal combustion processes
Vanyai, Tristan, Bricalli, Mathew, Brieschenk, Stefan and Boyce, Russell R. (2018). Scramjet performance for ideal combustion processes. Aerospace Science and Technology, 75, 215-226. doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2017.12.021
An experimental investigation of a thermal compression scramjet with OH imaging
Vanyai, Tristan , Bricalli, Mathew , Sopek, Tamara , Brieschenk, Stefan , McIntyre, Timothy J. and Boyce, Russell (2015). An experimental investigation of a thermal compression scramjet with OH imaging. 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 6-9 July 2015. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2015-3610
Gibbons, Nicholas, Vanyai, Tristan and Wheatley, Vincent (2021). Comparison of ethylene combustion mechanisms for the simulation of a supersonic combustion experiment. Aerospace Science and Technology, 119 107201. doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2021.107201
OH visualization of ethylene combustion modes in the exhaust of a fundamental, supersonic combustor
Vanyai, Tristan, Landsberg, Will O., McIntyre, Timothy J. and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2021). OH visualization of ethylene combustion modes in the exhaust of a fundamental, supersonic combustor. Combustion and Flame, 226, 143-155. doi: 10.1016/j.combustflame.2020.11.037
Thermal compression effects within a fundamental, hydrogen-fuelled scramjet
Vanyai, Tristan, Brieschenk, Stefan, Bricalli, Mathew, Sopek, Tamara and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2021). Thermal compression effects within a fundamental, hydrogen-fuelled scramjet. Aerospace Science and Technology, 110 106499, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2021.106499
Experimental scramjet combustion modes of hydrocarbon mixtures at Mach 8 flight conditions
Landsberg, Will O., Vanyai, Tristan, McIntyre, Timothy J. and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2020). Experimental scramjet combustion modes of hydrocarbon mixtures at Mach 8 flight conditions. AIAA Journal, 58 (12), 1-6. doi: 10.2514/1.j059856
Landsberg, Will O., Vanyai, Tristan, McIntyre, Timothy J. and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2020). Dual/scram-mode combustion limits of ethylene and surrogate endothermically-cracked hydrocarbon fuels at Mach 8 equivalent high-enthalpy conditions. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38 (3), 3835-3843. doi: 10.1016/j.proci.2020.07.003
Sopek, Tamara, Brieschenk, Stefan, Vanyai, Tristan, Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2020). Single-shot temperature measurements in a scramjet combustor using thermally assisted laser-induced fluorescence. AIAA Journal, 58 (8), 3486-3498. doi: 10.2514/1.j058985
Vanyai, Tristan, Grieve, Sam, Street, Oliver, Denman, Zachary, McIntyre, Timothy, Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan, Wheatley, Vincent and Smart, Michael (2020). Correction: Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel (Journal of Propulsion and Power, (2019) 5, 5, (953-963), 10.2514/1.B37472). Journal of Propulsion and Power, 36 (6), AU5-AU5. doi: 10.2514/1.B37472.c1
Iron contamination in high-enthalpy test facilities: OH PLIF imaging considerations
Sopek, Tamara, Brieschenk, Stefan, Vanyai, Tristan, Morgan, Richard G. and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2020). Iron contamination in high-enthalpy test facilities: OH PLIF imaging considerations. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 36 (1), 129-137. doi: 10.2514/1.B37676
Thermal and mixing efficiency enhancement in nonuniform-compression scramjets
Bricalli, Mathew G., Brown, Laurie, Boyce, Russell R. and Vanyai, Tristan (2019). Thermal and mixing efficiency enhancement in nonuniform-compression scramjets. AIAA Journal, 57 (11), 4778-4791. doi: 10.2514/1.J057908
Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel
Vanyai, Tristan, Grieve, Sam, Street, Oliver, Denman, Zachary, McIntyre, Timothy, Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan, Wheatley, Vincent and Smart, Michael (2019). Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 35 (5), 953-963. doi: 10.2514/1.B37472
Scramjet Performance with Nonuniform Flow and Swept Nozzles
Bricalli, Mathew G., Brown, Laurie, Boyce, Russell R., Gollan, Rowan, Vanyai, Tristan and Pudsey, Adrian S. (2018). Scramjet Performance with Nonuniform Flow and Swept Nozzles. AIAA Journal, 56 (10), 1-16. doi: 10.2514/1.j056963
Scramjet performance for ideal combustion processes
Vanyai, Tristan, Bricalli, Mathew, Brieschenk, Stefan and Boyce, Russell R. (2018). Scramjet performance for ideal combustion processes. Aerospace Science and Technology, 75, 215-226. doi: 10.1016/j.ast.2017.12.021
Trudgian, Matthew A., Russell, Hugh, Vanyai, Tristan and Veeraragavan, Ananthanarayanan (2023). Commissioning of a Supercritical Ethylene Fuel Injection System in the T4 Hypersonic Impulse Facility. Reston, Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2023-3025
Commercial Potential Evaluation of Scramjet Powered Vehicles for Access-to-Space
McTaggart, Lachlan and Vanyai, Tristan (2023). Commercial Potential Evaluation of Scramjet Powered Vehicles for Access-to-Space. Reston, Virginia: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2023-2685
Disruptive Effects on Ethylene Boundary Layer Combustion with a Multi-Porthole Injector Array
Sandral, Jacob, Vanyai, Tristan, Veeraragavan, Anand and Wheatley, Vincent (2022). Disruptive Effects on Ethylene Boundary Layer Combustion with a Multi-Porthole Injector Array. 23rd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 4-8 December 2022. Perth, WA Australia: Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society.
Large eddy simulation of multiport injector array transition
Gibbons, Nicholas N., Vanyai, Tristan and Wheatley, Vincent (2022). Large eddy simulation of multiport injector array transition. 2nd International Conference on High-Speed Vehicle Science & Technology, Bruges, Belgium, 11-15 September 2022.
Hydrogen boundary layer combustion with multi-porthole injector arrays
Sandral, J., Vanyai, T., Veeraragavan, A. and Wheatley, V. (2021). Hydrogen boundary layer combustion with multi-porthole injector arrays. Australian Combustion Symposium 2021, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 21-24 November 2021. Sydney, NSW Australia: Australia and New Zealand Combustion Institute.
Atomic Oxygen in Supersonic Combustion Experiment Inflows
Vanyai, T. and Gibbons, N. N. (2021). Atomic Oxygen in Supersonic Combustion Experiment Inflows. The Australian Combustion Symposium 2021, Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 21-24 November 2021. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Australian Combustion Symposium.
Experimental design for investigating hydrocarbon injection in a hypersonic inlet
Street, Oliver, Landsberg, Will O., Vanyai, Tristan, Razzaqi, Sarah A. and Veeraragavan, Anand (2021). Experimental design for investigating hydrocarbon injection in a hypersonic inlet. ASCEND 2021, Las Vegas, NV United States, 15-17 November 2021. Reston, VA United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2021-4120
Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel
Vanyai, Tristan, Grieve, Sam, Street, Oliver, Denman, Zachary, McIntyre, Timothy, Veeraragavan, Anand, Wheatley, Vincent and Smart, Michael (2018). Fundamental scramjet combustion experiments using hydrocarbon fuel. AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonics Systems and Technologies Conference, AIAA SPACE Forum, Orlando, FL, United States, 17–19 September 2018. Reston, VA United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2018-5201
Development of a fast-response calorimeter 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 gauge for hypersonic ground testing. AIAA Aerodynamic Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference, Denver, CO, United States, 5-9 June 2017. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautic. doi: 10.2514/6.2017-3238
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.
OH imaging in a non-uniform, hydrogen-fueled scramjet engine
Vanyai, Tristan, Brieschenk, Stefan and McIntyre, Timothy J (2017). OH imaging in a non-uniform, hydrogen-fueled scramjet engine. 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, ASPACC 2017, Sydney, Australia, 10-14 December 2017. Sydney, Australia: Combustion Institute.
An experimental investigation of a thermal compression scramjet with OH imaging
Vanyai, Tristan , Bricalli, Mathew , Sopek, Tamara , Brieschenk, Stefan , McIntyre, Timothy J. and Boyce, Russell (2015). An experimental investigation of a thermal compression scramjet with OH imaging. 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, 6-9 July 2015. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2015-3610
Banerjee, Sanchito, Vanyai, Tristan, Wang, Zhongjie, Baur, Bernhard and Holzapfel, Florian (2014). L1 augmentation configuration for a lateral/directional manoeuvre of a hypersonic glider in the presence of uncertainties. 19th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2014, Atlanta, GA, United States, 16-20 June 2014. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2014-2533
Quasi-one-dimensional investigation of combustion processes on scramjet performance
Vanyai, Tristan, Bricalli, Mathew, Brieschenk, Stefan and Boyce, Russell R. (2014). Quasi-one-dimensional investigation of combustion processes on scramjet performance. 19th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2014, Atlanta, GA, United States, 16-20 June 2014. Reston, VA, United States: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. doi: 10.2514/6.2014-2786
Experimental Investigation of a 3D Thermal Compression Scramjet Using Advanced Optical Techniques
Vanyai, Tristan (2018). Experimental Investigation of a 3D Thermal Compression Scramjet Using Advanced Optical Techniques. PhD Thesis, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.247
(2023–2025) United States Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development
Investigating Cascaded Injection of Ethylene Under Hypersonic Inlet Conditions
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Experimental Investigation of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Combustion of Hydrocarbon Fuels
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Injection of Supercritical and Near-Critical Fluids into Supersonic Crossflow
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Thermal compression scramjet performance over an access-to-space trajectory
Dr Tristan Vanyai has funding for a PHD project examining performance of fundamental scramjet engines. By encouraging non-uniformity in a scramjet flow path, local regions can become hot enough to ignite fuel-air mixtures in combustors that would otherwise have average, overall temperatures that are too low. This process has been shown numerically and experimentally to improve performance for hydrogen fuel at specific flight conditions, however we must examine whether an access-to-space vehicle’s performance is improved over the full hypersonic trajectory. In this project, a student will conduct numerical simulations and/or experiments with combustion visualisation to examine performance improvements over a baseline, uniform flow path.
If you are interested in this topic, please contact t.vanyai@uq.edu.au