US to develop resilient material for jet engines that eat shockwaves for propulsion

Lehigh University engineers received a $2 million NSF grant to develop materials for rotating detonation engines (RDEs), which use supersonic detonation waves for higher power, better fuel efficiency, and lower emissions than conventional engines. Current metal components fail after few cycles in RDEs. The team will create copper-based alloys and build a testing platform to screen materials under realistic conditions. This breakthrough could transform space access by reducing launch costs and supporting infrastructure for GPS, weather forecasting, and delivery services.