Tabletop Material Testbed for Rotating Detonation Engine Components

A tabletop material testbed for rotating detonation engine (RDE) component evaluation was developed by integrating a high-repetition-rate (up to 20 Hz) high-power detonation tube with high-temperature laser heating technology. This hybrid platform enables controlled simulation of extreme environments, supporting the development and assessment of advanced materials capable of enduring both intense detonation waves and severe thermal loads typical of hypersonic propulsion systems such as RDEs and scramjets. The testbed delivers a broad range of detonation pressures combined with precisely controlled, laser-induced thermal loading, allowing realistic replication of material–detonation wave–heat interactions. By providing a versatile and cost-effective testing environment, this system facilitates systematic investigation and rapid iteration of candidate materials under near-operational RDE conditions, yielding critical insights into material performance, durability, and failure mechanisms.