RESEARCH
Main Research Areas:
Advanced space propulsion field,
particularly in airbreathing propulsion, electric thrusters, and liquid/hybrid and solid rocket engines;
Combustion
Supersonic and subsonic combustion in homogeneous and heterogeneous phase;
plasma assisted combustion by investigating the charged species recombination, the impact of plasma on ignition and flame anchoring
Aluminium and water combustion for space application
Chemical kinetics, Particularly related to:
kinetics of combustion in the gas phase for aviation fuel (both at low and high pressure)
hydrocarbon cracking/reforming analysis for light species onboard productions, and examination of rocket performance
charged species recombination analysis
ISRU: In Situ Resource Utilization in particular for mars exploration
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics); Particularly focused on
RANS and LES simulations of scramjet, liquid rocket and hybrid engines.
Simulazioni 3D PIC/MCC for plasma thruster
SGS modeling for turbulent compressible reactive flows and for Electro-Magnetic/fluid dynamic interaction
Funding Information (Grants as Principal Investigator or I-investigator)
STARTING: Space Technologies addressing research transfer into nowadays generations
Terza Missione
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities for students
HYGREEN: HYpersonic Green Ramjet Engine: Experiments and Numerics (SEED)
Project that deals with numerical and experimental analysis of ramjet hypersonic engines powered by low environmental impact fuels
HRElab (MBDA)
Project based on the investigation of innovative fuels for hybrid rockets
IMAGE
Coordinamento progetti collaborativi Horizon Europe – II edizione issued by La Sapienza
Contribution to manage proposal in Horizon Europe
Numerical Investigation of the Plasma assited Supersonic Combustion
Progetti di Ricerca Piccoli, issued by La Sapienza
Project dealing with numerical investigation of scramjets
Numerical and experimental investigation of biopolymers -based hybrid propulsion
National program “Ricerche Universitarie” issued by University of Rome “La Sapienza”, prot. RP1181643632B178
Project dealing with numerical and experimental investigation of different propellants for hybrid propulsion/ hybrid
Casting of solid propellant within rocket motors: safe and high efficiency methodology
Grant issued by GAUSS Srl
Project dealing with theoretical and experimental investigation of solid propellant manufacturing for solid and hybrid propulsion
Analysis and sizing of aerospace propulsion systems
Grant issued by GAUSS Srl
Project dealing with sizing of low thrust engines and investigating performance for different propellants and operative conditions
THESEUS, THrusters Evolution for Space Exploration and Upper Stages
National program issued by AVIO SpA
Project investigating the combustion efficiency of different LCH4/O2 thrusters configurations and operative conditions by means of RANS/LES simulations
Flameless Oxidation and MILD combustion for NOx reduction strategy
National program FARI, prot. C26I12S5Z7 issued by University of Rome “La Sapienza”
Investigation of the feasibility of MILD combustion chambers with high efficiency and low emissions by means of chemical and numerical analysis
Electro-Chemical Thruster for Space Propulsion
National program “Ricerche Universitarie” issued by University of Rome “La Sapienza”, prot. C26A11R8JJ
Investigation of innovative electro-chemical propulsion system for space applications
Physics of Compressible Reactive Turbulence
ISCRA program issued by CINECA
Numerical simulations of compressible reacting flows (RANS/LES)
Physics and Modelling of Mixing and Combustion in Supersonic Flows
National program “Progetti di Ricerca Universitari” issued by University of Rome “La Sapienza”, prot. C26I107PR8
Investigation of SGS models for turbulent combustion in compressible flows
Work Experience as Coordinator
2014-2015, RAMJET Grant issued by AVIO SpA
A project dealing with the sizing of ramjet engines and investigating performance for different operative conditions and mission requirements.
2014 FARI, proto. Call 26I12S5Z7 National program issued by University of Rome “La Sapienza”
Project on FLAMELESS OXIDATION and MILD combustion for NOx reduction strategy
2008-2014, LAPCAT II (Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies II)
International program issued by EU within the 7th Framework Programme (FP7) Theme Transport, Contract no.: ACP7-GA-2008-211485.
Project investigating high-speed transport in particular NOx reduction strategies, ozone depletion, nozzle to tail vehicle sizing, RANS/LES of the European MR2 scramjet configuration
2007-2009, Collaborative Research on Hypersonic Airbreathing Propulsion System
Bilateral Special program between Korea and Italy issued by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A project dealing with LES simulations of the HyShot II scramjet engine
2007-2008, PRIN National program
National program issued by Italian Ministry of Instruction
Project investigating the feasibility of Microcombustors for Microturbine and Microthrusters through CFD simulations and theoretical scaling laws
2005 - 2008, LAPCAT Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies.
The international program issued by the European Community within the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) Priority Programme 1.4 Aeronautics and Space.
A project investigating scramjet engines through LES simulations of the HyShot II and the NASA Langley scramjet configurations; analysis of different fuels; investigation of fuel cracking and reforming for scramjet applications (Technical report RT8_Lapcat_D.6.7.1.pdf)
2005-2010, GDR-E (European research group) at "Energy and Safety of Hydrogen".
The international program issued by the European Community within the Sixth Framework Programme;
A project to investigating hydrogen as a fuel for aerospace applications.
2005–2010, TEPSI “Technologies and innovative processes for the future hydrogen-based system” National FISR program issued by MIUR
a Project to investigating hydrogen as a fuel for power plants
2005, LCD laboratory grant International Grant issued by the Scientific France Embassy
For internship between France and Italian Researchers to work at experimental test facilities.
2003–2005, Studies on the preparation, atomization, and combustion of nano aluminum – water slurry, a novel “green” propellant for space applications’’ International program issued by INTAS, Ref. Nr. 03-53-5203
A project investigating aluminum as fuel for space applications and aluminum/water combustion chemistry and kinetics (Technical report RT9_INTAS Report.pdf)
2002 – 2003, "Chemical Microrocket: Scaling and Performance Enhancement''
The international program issued by EOARD (European Office of Aerospace Research and Development), Contract Order Number FA8655-02-M034
A Project investigating chemical micro-rockets feasibility and thermal load reduction strategy (Technical report RT10_FA8655-02-M034.pdf)
02/2002 - 06/2002, CFD analysis of numerical thermo-fluid dynamics
The National program issued by CSM
a project investigating advanced materials for nozzles.
For more details, visit SIA Advanced Propulsion and Combustion Laboratory