Colloquium: Novel Chemical Propulsion Research

The lecture will present some novel and innovative propulsion concepts and investigations conducted in our research group. The subject of aluminized solid propellant combustion will be presented, highlighting the problem of particle agglomeration and slag formation and ways to reduce this phenomenon. Solid fuel ramjets (SFRJ) and scramjets will be discussed as well, including the concept of self-propelled gun-launched projectiles. A novel concept of enhancing the fuel burning rate and thrust by expandable graphite additives will be demonstrated. Extension of the ramjet concept to high-speed water-breathing underwater ram rocket vehicles will reveal a powerful propulsion means, particularly when adding water-reactive metal particles to the fuel grain. The presentation of those subjects and others will include video clips and new data.

Alon Gany is Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of the Technion. He joined the faculty in 1979 and was the holder of the Fohrman Chair in Aeronautical Engineering. Alon was the academic advisor for the planning and construction of the Fine Rocket Propulsion Center and headed it for 18 years. During the years 2000-2002 he was also the Dean of Students of the Technion. Prof. Gany received all his academic degrees from the Technion. He was a postdoc and later-on a visiting professor at Princeton University and spent another sabbatical year at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA as a Senior NRC Research Fellow.
Alon’s research and interest are in aerospace propulsion (rockets, ramjets), marine innovative propulsion, combustion, and hydrogen energy.  He is a Member of the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and was recently elected to the Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Alon is Fellow and Honorary Fellow in 4 international associations including AIAA. Among his main honors are the 2025 AIAA Wyld Propulsion Award, Mafat’s Lifetime Award for Innovative Mind, recognition as Technion’s Permanent Distinguished Lecturer, and a conference Advances in Chemical Propulsion honoring him at his 75th Birthday.
Alon advised over 100 students toward master’s and doctoral degrees. He published with his students and colleagues over 150 journal papers, 450 conference presentations, a course textbook on propulsion (in Hebrew), and some 20 patents worldwide.
Alon is married to Ruti, and they have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.