2023 Distinguished Paper Award (DPA) in the Detonation, Explosion, and Supersonic Combustion Colloquium

In this 13-part series of articles, The Combustion Institute recognizes the 2023 Distinguished Papers selected from among the scientific papers presented during the 39th International Symposium on Combustion. Congratulations to Mark D. Frederick, Rohan M. Gejji, Joseph E. Shepherd, and Carson D. Slabaugh for winning the DPA in the Detonation, Explosion, and Supersonic Combustion colloquium.
 
The investigation for their paper titled, “Statistical analysis of detonation wave structure”, involved a quantitative analysis of simultaneous schlieren and broadband chemiluminescence images of hydrocarbon fueled detonations. These images were obtained at rate of 5 MHz, which allowed for the passage of the detonation wave to be temporally resolved. Then, using statistical methods, the group characterized the oscillatory nature of both the shock and reaction fronts to understand how the gas-dynamic and chemical-kinetic fields couple as a function of the reactant composition.
 
The results detailed in their paper represent a step forward in how detonation structure is experimentally studied. The authors hope that the methodology presented will be used by other researchers to root their analyses in the examination of the dynamic flow-field inherent to these flows.
 
Drs. Frederick, Gejji, and Slabaugh are all affiliated with Purdue University in the state of Indiana, USA, while Dr. Shepherd’s affiliation is with the California Institute of Technology in California, USA.  The authors are grateful to Hadland Imaging for support with the Shimadzu HPV-X2 cameras. 
 
Over 1,500 papers were submitted to the 39th International Symposium on Combustion. All papers were categorized into one of 13 colloquia and then distributed to Colloquium Coordinators and Co-Chairs. Each paper received at least three reviews from qualified individuals through the peer-review process. Less than 50 percent of the papers submitted were accepted for presentation.
 
Following the symposium, one paper presented in each colloquium is awarded the distinction of Distinguished Paper. Visit here to view the presentation. The 13 Distinguished Papers undergo committee review for consideration for the Silver Combustion Medal. A paper selected for this honor exemplifies quality, achievement, and significance to advance a field of combustion science, and was awarded during the 40th International Symposium in Milan, Italy.