James Wall

James Wall is a graduate student in aeronautics and astronautics whose research investigates pump cavitation. James derives scaling laws for thermodynamic suppression effects in rocket engine turbopumps, validated in MATLAB, allowing quantitative estimation of cavitation behavior in cryogenic propellants from limited water test data. James uses optical image processing in MATLAB to measure tip vortex cavitation trajectories, developing first-principles models to characterize how tip leakage flow affects instability onset across pump designs. As a MathWorks Fellow, they will adapt their MATLAB models from rocket turbopumps to apply to other fluids such as sustainable aviation fuel. These fuels could be more prone to cavitation than conventional jet fuel because of their different properties. James will conduct optical image processing of fuel pump cavitation and secondary flow effects in MATLAB and develop new scaling laws, validated by data analysis in MATLAB. Their research could support the transition of currently operating engines to sustainable aviation fuel, enabling a near-term reduction in aviation emissions.