Two research groups are active in the field of Flammability of Fuels and Lubricants at the Turbomachinery Laboratory. While some research and experiments overlap, each group has a distinct specialty as outlined below.
The Mashuga Group
DR. CHAD MASHUGA
In the Chemical Process Safety and Flammability Laboratory, we are dedicated to the advancement of process safety through fundamental research. We conduct traditional process safety experiments as well as develop new testing methodologies and equipment. Our mission is to conduct experiments that provide understanding of credible safety scenarios at the enterprise scale that result in actionable data permitting the enhancement of chemical process safety, process reliability and sustainability. Methodologies include computational fluid dynamics, quantitative structure property relationship modeling, ignition energy and flammability prediction. Our techniques include ignition energy and flammability measurements of gas, dust and aerosol systems, calorimetric determination of safety reaction kinetics.
The Petersen Group
DR. ERIC PETERSEN
- Professor, Mechanical Engineering
- Nelson-Jackson Chair Professor
- Turbomachinery Laboratory Director
The Petersen Research Group specializes in the study of combustion, gas dynamics, and propulsion. We conduct experiments and analyses on reacting flows, chemical kinetics, and shock waves for applications ranging from advanced propellants and rockets to optical diagnostics and gas turbine engines. Our research is sponsored by a combination of government and industry sources, including the Department of Defense (Navy, Air Force, DTRA, JEMTP, SERDP), the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, various gas turbine-related OEMs, Helicon Chemical Co., Parametric Solutions, and Lynntech, among others. We are located in the Turbomachinery Laboratory at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX