About
Carl Knowlen is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington. He holds a PhD from the same institution, specializing in ram accelerators and hypervelocity propulsion. His roles include teaching and leading experimental research in shockwave reactors, detonation engines, and green propellant technologies. Knowlen has collaborated internationally, including a 3-month stint in Japan (1996), and transitioned from postdoctoral roles to senior research positions before his current faculty appointment in 2015.
Education: PhD (1991), MSAA (1985), BSAA (1983) in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the University of Washington.
Research focuses on energy conversion, combustion physics, and hypervelocity propulsion systems. Key areas include ram accelerators for space launch applications, rotating detonation engines (RDEs), and cryogenic energy storage. His work emphasizes integrated experimental and computational modeling, with notable contributions to baffled-tube ram accelerator design and detonation wave dynamics. Recent studies address pre-ignition propellant mixing in RDEs and scaling effects in rocket propulsion systems.
Students advised include Quentin Roberts (AIAA Zarem award winner) and Carter Vu (NSF GRFP recipient). Research facilities utilized include the Kirsten Wind Tunnel and experimental setups for RDE combustor testing.
Labs/Teams: Active in the UW Ram Accelerator Program and collaborations with Tohoku/Hiroshima Universities. Current projects include shockwave reactors for hydrocarbon upgrading and green microthrusters for CubeSats.
