A student research group for
propulsion design, analysis and manufacture
Sungkyun Propulsion Lab (SPL) is a student club in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. Its research subjects are the small jet engine and the rotating detonation engine, and students carry out the design, analysis and manufacture themselves.
- ResearchSmall jet engine · Rotating detonation engine
- Founded2026
- AffiliationSKKU School of Mechanical Engineering
Functional teams
Research is carried out by four functional teams: design, analysis, manufacturing, and test and instrumentation.
Design
Defines requirements, designs geometry and specifications, and manages the results as drawings and documents.
Analysis
Verifies designs by cycle, flow, thermal and structural analysis. Results are reviewed by members other than the analyst.
Manufacturing
Fabricates and assembles parts according to the approved design.
Test & Instrumentation
Conducts tests and keeps measurement data together with the test conditions.
Research areas
Two propulsion systems are currently under study.
Small jet engine
Design, manufacture and testing of a gas turbine engine consisting of a compressor, combustor and turbine.
Details →RDERotating detonation engine
A propulsion system in which a detonation wave circulates in an annular combustor. Currently at the numerical analysis stage.
Details →Document management
Results of design, analysis and testing are managed as documents with unique numbers, and changes are recorded in a revision history. Documents are managed in oneSPL, a system developed in-house.
Numbers and revisions
Every document has a unique number, and changes are recorded per revision.
Mutual review
The person who performs a design is distinct from the person who verifies it. Analysis results are reviewed by someone other than the analyst.
Data retention
Test data is retained with test conditions and instrument status so that it can be checked afterwards.
Support and partnership
SPL is a non-profit student organization with a limited operating budget. Support in equipment, materials, test space and technical advice is a great help to the research.