Student Research Projects With Industrial Impact

Abstract

This paper describes six final year undergraduate research projects supported by a collaboration between the Whittle Laboratory at Cambridge University and Reaction Engines (RE). The collaboration is now in its fourth year of projects relating to RE's Synergetic Air Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE). The approach taken combines modern teaching pedagogy with a best practice methodology for industrial-academic collaboration and a well-established framework for structuring research problems. This paper explains how the three methodologies are tailored and adapted for use with undergraduate research projects. The approach is mapped to an annual project cycle which begins with industry and academic partners deciding which topics to investigate and proceeds through student selection, project work and concludes with assessment and final reporting. The projects combine analytical, computational and experimental work and have covered counter-rotating turbomachinery, compressor S-ducts and Helium turbines, all of which are of primary importance SABRE's design. Following descriptions of six completed projects, the work's impact and lessons learned are considered from the point of view of the students, the industrial partner and the academic supervisors. Overall, the students found the work extremely engaging and were encouraged to pursue careers in engineerin. The collaboration provides the industry partner with expertise and an approach not available in-house as well providing a 'second look' at key technical questions. For the academics, the opportunity to lead research on 'real' problems has proved highly motivating as well as providing opportunities for personal and career development.