Dr. Robert C. Hendricks, PE

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Robert Clyde Hendricks, "Bob", began his career as an 8 year old curious about machines and propulsion systems in  the summer of 1942 driving tractor and running machinery on the family farm in Worthington, Ohio USA.  

While on that farm, he acquired his Uncle's passion of aviation and witnessed how winters slowed the number of flights at the local airport. His response was to write an innovative paper on de-icing a plane during his freshman year at The Ohio State University. This was transformative to the aviation industry. 

During his freshman year at Ohio State University (OSU) (1952), Mr. Sandy Hellman hired Bob as a draftsman at North American Aviation (NAA) in Columbus, Ohio. Investing his summer breaks from OSU, Bob worked as a draftsman on the F-86, AJ-2, F-51, and FJ-4 aircraft. In 1955-56, Bob worked at the NAA-Rocketdyne-Slauson Ave. and Rocketdyne Canoga Park Facilities in California working as a Junior Engineer on the G-38 Redstone, and other classified rocket engine designs.  

Bob paid for most of his education by working in the Physics Library at OSU and these engineering firms.

Bob graduated from The Ohio State University in 1957 with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering-Propulsion Option. 

Bob was commissioned to the United States Air Force, entering as 2nd Lieutenant and worked at NAA, Rocketdyne, The Ohio State University and  the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA/NASA). He began solving combustion problems in the NACA X-15 rocket engine. The program culminated in the successful operation of the liquid oxygen- (LOX) - ammonia manned rated rocket engine which was instrumental in the propulsion systems of Apollo rockets and the Space Shuttle. He completed his commitment to the United States Air Force with the rank of Captain. 

Bob was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force and continued his 62-year career with NACA/NASA progressing to Senior Technologist (ST)Research Scientist at NASA-GRC [Glenn Research Center]. 

1991 appointed to Senior Scientific and Professional Corps (ST) 

Our work on thermal barrier coatings for turbomachines demonstrated that ceramic shroud seals provide high-temperature seal capability and that thermal cycling induces stress failures at the bondcoat interface, leading to the development of functionally graded coatings. We have also developed brush seal metallic and ceramic designs as well as associated experimental and analytical methodologies and obtained research results that have been used extensively within the turbomachine industry. We changed the compressor discharge seal of a YT700 engine from labyrinth to a dual-brush and conclusively demonstrated that small changes in leakage flows enhanced engine performance by altering flows throughout the entire engine. This prompted interactive analyses of turbomachine seal, secondary, and powerstream flowfields, with demonstrated increases in engine performance. For these works I received the ISROMAC (International Symposium on Transport Phenomena and Dynamics of Rotating Machinery) AWARD for OUTSTANDING RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS IN TURBOMACHINERY, 

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON STABILITY CONTROL OF ROTATING MACHINERY(ISCORMA-1) AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS ON THEORY AND USE OF PRESSURIZED BEARINGS, AND THE ISCORMA-2 AWARD FOR AN INTITED PRESENTATION ON "SEALING IN TURBOMACHINERY"

Our work in PREDICTING LIFE OF TURBINE ENGINE COMPONENTS has shown the need for statistically significant data at both the component and fundamental materials level. Virtual Monte-Carlo bearing testing successfully corroborated experimental bearing data and has also shown that hybrid bearings under nominal loading have less life than comparable steel bearings. We demonstrated the feasibility of elevated-Mach-number trapped vortex combustors over a wide range of fuel/air ratios and water-injected combustors with significantly lower emissions.

Our work in WATER INJECTION OF TURBOMACHINE COMBUSTORS has demonstrated potential lower turbine blade temperatures and a 50 percent or more reduction in NOx emissions depending upon water/air ration and points of injection; further aircraft applications studies show emissions and hot-section life benefits for take-off and climb-out. For these and other contributions, he received the 

NASA/LaRC GREEN LECTURE SERIES AWARD

and

SAE 2004 ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORTATION AWARD

Our work toward ENERGY INDEPENDENCE is focused on alternate fuels, energy efficiency, environment and energetic materials. The program included, but not limited to, the impacts of sourcing, producing, environment and testing; laboratory-testing, test and commercial flights. Alternate fuels and combustor performance parameters derived from energy sources such as coal, natural gas, biomass, shale, and methane hydrates - for aircraft and other transportation applications were developed to meet the very stringent requirements of flight qualification as "drop-in fuels".  Liquid fuels derived from coal and natural gas (CTL, GTL) blended with kerosene are identified as near-term solutions, with extensions to biomass and shale derived fuels as mid-term solutions, and methane and hydrogen as far-term sources of fuel and energy solutions, with expected increases in engine efficiency and reduced emissions. For these and other major contributioh to science and engineering, he achieved THE PRESIDENTIAL RANK AWARD OF MERITORIOUS SENIOR PROFESSIONAL and Inducted as HONORARY MEMBER ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR PROGRESS OF SCIENCE.

The energetic materials effort supports both space and terrestrial demands. Our combustor performance and hot section materials, (e.g., turbine disk and turbine blades) work continues and complements demands for longer on-the-wing life with both conventional and alternated fueling being interchangeable. We initiated and are developing research and applications path forward for energetic materials for sustaining space missions (human and robotic) with peaceful purposes with four NASA Centers and other collaborators; long term implications for science and engineering. 

Some 400 PUBLICATIONS document his scientific contributions with numerous other contributions - to conferences and conference committees, special lectures, and university and laboratory presentations - at the local, national, and international levels. 

Other significant activities:

Professional Engineer, State of Ohio 30094

Member, Life member, Fellow-ASME

Member AIAA

Member SAE

Member: US Committee on Properties of Fluid Water/Stream

Member Committee ISROMAC

Referee/Reviewer for several journals and conferences

Served on Alternate Fueling technical committees affiliated with boards or government agencies at an international level in co-operation with AFRL/WPAFB and Boeing

Reviewer of articles for NIST in area of fuels properties

Reviewer for AIAA, ASME

Assoc. Editor International Journal of Rotating Machinery, Hindawi Publishers

Chairman/Member of Cryogenic Engineering Conference

Vice President/Member International Institute of Refrigeration

Researcher/member US-USSR Working Group on Hydrodynamics and Heat Transfer, Superconducting Power Transmission

Program CoChair/Member National Heat Transfer Conference (NHTC)

Actively involved in missions work at the local, national and international levels, contributing to the refurbishing and building of lives and structures. 

For decades, I videotaped weekly church services rebroadcast on cable TV