Ray W. Herrick Laboratories

Ray W. Herrick Laboratories is a mechanical engineering research complex at Purdue University dedicated to experimental and applied research in turbomachinery, propulsion, thermal systems, and fluid dynamics. Founded with industrial philanthropy, the facility supports collaboration among faculty, graduate students, and engineers from industry partners, national laboratories, and government agencies. The laboratories host advanced test rigs, wind tunnels, and instrumentation to advance knowledge in aerodynamics, heat transfer, vibration, and controls.

History

The origin of the laboratories traces to post-World War II industrial expansion and collaboration between Purdue University and philanthropists like Ray W. Herrick, alongside institutions such as General Electric, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Allison Engine Company, and National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Early work connected with figures from Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Boeing, and Lockheed Corporation led to programs paralleling efforts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Caltech, Stanford University, and University of Michigan. Over decades the site engaged with projects sponsored by National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and NASA, and collaborated with national labs like Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories. Faculty drawn from lineages including alumni of Carnegie Mellon University, Cornell University, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London shaped research directions. The laboratories expanded through capital campaigns involving donors and corporations such as Cummins Inc., Siemens, GE Aviation, United Technologies Corporation, and Honeywell International.

Facilities and Laboratories

The complex houses specialized facilities referenced alongside peer installations at Air Force Research Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and NASA Glenn Research Center. Major components include large-scale centrifugal and axial compressor test rigs comparable to equipment at Rolls-Royce plc test centers, high-speed turbomachinery rigs modeled after Siemens Energy platforms, and reciprocating engine test cells paralleling those at Caterpillar Inc. The laboratories contain wind tunnels used in studies akin to work at Arnold Engineering Development Complex, and thermal test loops reminiscent of setups at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. Instrumentation suites include laser Doppler velocimetry systems like those used at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, particle image velocimetry equipment similar to MIT Lincoln Laboratory installations, and high-speed data acquisition systems comparable to National Institute of Standards and Technology testbeds. The site features vibration and modal analysis chambers paralleling capabilities at General Motors Research Laboratory and structural test facilities akin to NASA Ames Research Center.

Research and Development

Research spans turbomachinery, internal combustion, combustion diagnostics, heat transfer, acoustics, and fluid-structure interaction, intersecting themes in studies led at Pratt & Whitney, GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, NASA Langley Research Center, and European Space Agency. Projects address blade fouling and erosion problems investigated by Siemens and ABB Group, film cooling and blade cooling strategies related to Snecma work, and combustion instability problems connected to Honeywell research. Collaborative efforts include multi-institution consortia with MIT, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, and Technical University of Munich. Computational and experimental validation integrates tools and approaches developed at Sandia National Laboratories, Argonne National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Research outcomes interface with standards bodies and industry groups such as American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers committees.

Education and Outreach

The laboratories support graduate education affiliated with Purdue University College of Engineering degree programs and postdoctoral training similar to fellowships at National Science Foundation and Department of Energy labs. Outreach includes workshops and short courses co-hosted with organizations like ASME, AIAA, SAE International, and IEEE, and summer programs patterned after initiatives at NSF REU sites. Industry short courses mirror executive education by Wharton School, MIT Professional Education, and Stanford Continuing Studies. The facility collaborates with regional school systems, Indiana Department of Education initiatives, and workforce development programs connected to Indiana University and Ivy Tech Community College to promote STEM pathways. Internships and cooperative education reflect partnerships with firms such as Cummins Inc., Delphi Technologies, Eaton Corporation, and Honda.

Notable Projects and Achievements

Notable achievements include experimental validation of compressor performance maps informing designs at GE Aviation and Rolls-Royce, breakthroughs in film cooling and thermal barrier assessments used by Pratt & Whitney and Honeywell, and development of diagnostic methods adopted by NASA, Department of Defense, and U.S. Navy programs. The laboratories contributed to large-scale government initiatives like collaborative research underpinning programs at DARPA, ARPA-E, and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and supported prototype testing for additive manufacturing alloys paralleling efforts at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and National Institute of Standards and Technology. Alumni and faculty have received recognitions from ASME, AIAA, National Academy of Engineering, and Society of Automotive Engineers. The site’s test data and methods have influenced regulatory and industry standards adopted by organizations such as ISO and IEC committees.

Category:Purdue University