Hi, I’m Tung Lam Dang. Here you can find some of the engineering projects I’m working on.

Portrait of Tung-Lam Dang

Image credit: NASA

01 / Selected projects

Propulsion and systems projects

Updated CAD model of the reusable spaceplane concept
P / 01   System concept

Reusable launch vehicle

Reusable Spaceplane Concept

  • Mission analysis
  • Propulsion integration
  • Vehicle architecture
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Conceptual feasibility study of a reusable spaceplane architecture for low-cost access to low Earth orbit, with focus on propulsion requirements, rapid reusability, and safe landing capability.

Scope and methods

  • Mass-budget estimation in MATLAB
  • Trajectory and performance modeling in Simulink with RASAero II drag estimates
  • Engine performance estimation using NASA CEA for thermochemical reference data
  • Preliminary vehicle geometry in Autodesk Inventor

Current status

Vehicle layout and propulsion architecture are partially documented. The current focus is the detailed turbopump design. Re-entry, wing, and landing-system concepts remain conceptual and still require proper sizing and detailed design.

Updated CAD model of the preliminary fuel turbopump
P / 02   Component development

Full-flow staged combustion

FFSC Engine Turbopump Design

  • Turbomachinery
  • Thermodynamics
  • CFD optimization
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Fuel- and oxidizer-pump development for a high-performance reusable full-flow staged-combustion engine, derived from the spaceplane propulsion requirements.

Scope and methods

  • Preburner and propellant-property analysis with NASA CEA, Excel, and CoolProp
  • Pump sizing and performance estimation in MATLAB
  • CFD verification and optimization in ANSYS Fluent
  • Preliminary pump geometry in Autodesk Inventor

Current status

Preliminary fuel- and oxidizer-pump sizing is complete. CFD verification is in progress, followed by optimization for reusability and mass and later engine-cycle simulation in Simscape.

Updated CAD model of the rocket-engine turbopump test stand
P / 03   Test infrastructure

5 kN H2O2 engine

Turbopump Test Stand

  • System behavior
  • Safety and controls
  • Test integration
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A university test-stand project for a 5 kN hydrogen peroxide rocket engine. My responsibilities cover system behavior, safety, cooling, and control concepts.

Scope and methods

  • Preliminary test-stand sizing in MATLAB
  • Steady-state and transient feed-system simulation in Simscape
  • Pump-outlet pressure and cooling-control concepts
  • H2O2 compatibility, flushing, venting, decomposition risk, and emergency shutdown logic

Current project status

The selection of suitable test stand components is completed. The current focus is the development of mechanical mounting concepts and control concepts for safe operation. Further work includes refinement of the pump outlet pressure control, cooling control strategy, and detailed integration of the selected components.