headshot

Russell K. Denney

Research Engineer II
Chief Engineer, Propulsion and Energy Division

Russ Denney is a Research Engineer within the School of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the Chief Engineer for the Propulsion and Energy Division. Mr. Denney’s research interests include air-breathing propulsion systems design, turbomachinery, and combustion. Mr. Denney joined the Georgia Tech Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL) in May 2003. Mr. Denney was previously employed for twenty-five years at the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Dayton, Ohio, where he served as Technical Specialist in Airbreathing Propulsion, Performance and Operability.

  • Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, 1987, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
  • Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, 1981, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

  • NPSS Parametric Geared Fan Development (Sponsor: Boeing Aerospace Company) (Co-Investigator)
  • Systems Analysis Support for the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration Program (Sponsor: NASA)
  • Scalable Engine Conceptual Design Model (Sponsor: CFD Research Corporation)
  • Design and Analysis of a MQ-9 Class Hybrid Propulsion Aircraft (Sponsor: UES, Inc.)
  • Far Term Technology Dashboard to Support the AATT Project (Sponsor: NASA)
  • Aircraft Technology Modeling and Assessment (Sponsor: Federal Aviation Administration)
  • Electrified Propulsion Modeling Environment Development (Sponsor: Boeing)
  • Multi-Design Point Training (Sponsor: Boeing)
  • Systems Analysis and Uncertainty Analysis in Support of NASA Programs (Sponsor: NASA)
  • Business Case for High Performance Fuels (Sponsor: Department of Energy)
  • Parametric NPSS Modeling for Gas Turbine On- and Off-Design Operations (Sponsor: Boeing)
  • Continuation of Integrated, Higher Fidelity, Propulsion System Modeling for Subsystems Requirements (Sponsor: Boeing)
  • Hybrid-Electric Propulsion (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce)
  • Requirements Definition and Feasibility Investigation for an Origami-Adapted Nozzle (Sponsor: Pratt & Whitney)
  • Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization (MDO) of Turbomachinery (Sponsor: Siemens) (Co-Investigator)
  • Development of Surrogate Models Applied to Combustor Dynamics (Sponsor: Ansaldo Energia Switzerland) (Co-Investigator)
  • Aircraft Energy Architecture Modeling Evaluation (Sponsor: Boeing
  • Uncertainty Quantification and Management in Engine Conceptual Design (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation)
  • Real Gas Effects for Gas Turbine Engine Modeling (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation) (Co-Investigator)
  • Parametric Geometry for Propulsion-Airframe Integration (Sponsor: NASA) (Co-Investigator)
  • Equilibrium Gas Property Relations for NPSS (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation) (Co-Investigator)
  • Application of Deterministic and Probabilistic System Design Methods and Enhancements of Conceptual Design Tools for ERA Project (Sponsor: NASA) (Co-Investigator)
  • Environmental Design System (EDS) Assessment of CLEEN Technologies (Sponsor: Federal Aviation Administration)
  • University Strategic Alliance in Robust Systems Design and Optimization (Sponsor: General Electric Company)
  • Development of Statistical Data Match NPSS Models (Sponsor: Pratt & Whitney Aircraft) (Co-Investigator)
  • MDA Environment Tool Development (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation
  • Improved Engine Monitoring Capability Development (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation) (Co-Investigator)
  • Propulsion System Study for Propeller Driven UAV (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation)
  • Support for Enterprise Research and Development (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce PLC)
  • Support of NASA Subtopic A.4.7.1-Supersonic Concept Development (Sponsor: Boeing)
  • Enhanced Modeling and Analysis for Technology Cost-Benefit Estimation (Enhanced Modeling and Analysis for Emissions Prediction) (Sponsor: NASA Glenn Research Center) (Co-Investigator)
  • Fixed-Cycle Engine Simulations (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation) (Co-Investigator)
  • Subsonic Long Range Strike Optimization (Sponsor: Rolls-Royce Corporation) (Co-Investigator)
  • Automated Calibration of Turbine Performance Simulations Using Optimum Robust Estimation of Engine Model Parameters (Sponsor: Air Force Office of Scientific Research) (Co-Investigator)
  • Cooled Turbine Design and Optimization (Sponsor: Teledyne Continental Motors - Turbine Engines)
  • Decision Making Support for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (Sponsor: NASA Langley Research Center)
  • NASA/DoD University Research Engineering Technology Institute (URETI) on Aeropropulsion and Power Technology (UAPT) (Sponsor: NASA/DoD)
  • Parametric Design Space Exploration of Propulsion Systems for Supersonic Business Jet Application (Sponsor: Pratt & Whitney)
  • Creation of a Parametric Variable Cycle Engine Model for Supersonic Business Jet Applications (Sponsor: NASA Glenn Research Center)

Journal Articles

  1. Gokcin Cinar , Yu Cai , Mayank V. Bendarkar , Andrew I. Burrell, Russell K. Denney and Dimitri N. Mavris, System Analysis and Design Space Exploration of Regional Aircraft with Electrified Powertrains, AIAA Journal of Aircraft, September 2022
  2. H. Ran, R. Denney, D. N. Mavris, Determination of the Terminal Shock in Two-Dimensional Supersonic Inlets, AIAA Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 49, No. 5, p. 1532, Sept-Oct 2012

Conference Papers

  1. Gokcin Cinar, Yu Cai, Mayank V. Bendarkar, Andrew I. Burrell, Russell K. Denney and Dimitri N. Mavris, System Analysis and Design Space Exploration of Regional Aircraft with Electrified Powertrains, AIAA Paper 2022-1994, AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum, San Diego, CA, January 3-7, 2022
  2. Alex Markov, Gokcin Cinar, Jonathan C. Gladin, Elena Garcia, Russell K. Denney, Soumya S. Patnaik and Dimitri N. Mavris, Performance Assessment of a Distributed Electric Propulsion System for a Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, AIAA Paper 2021-3289, AIAA Propulsion and Energy 2021 Forum, Virtual, August 9-11, 2021
  3. Manish Pokhrel, Jonathan Gladin, Russell K. Denney, and Dimitri Mavris, An Approach for Fan Stage Conceptual Design with Non-Axisymmetric Stators in Presence of Distortion, AIAA Paper 2020-2643, AIAA Aviation 2020 Forum, Virtual, June 15-19, 2020
  4. Shane T. Kosir, Lily Behnke, Joshua S. Heyne, Robert D. Stachler, Giacomo Flora, Steven Zabarnick, Anthe George, Alexander Landera, Ray Bambha, Russell Denney, and Mohan Gupta, Improvement in Jet Aircraft Operation with the Use of High-Performance Drop-in Fuels, AIAA Paper 2019-0993, AIAA Scitech 2019 Forum, San Diego, CA, January 7-11, 2019
  5. Haoyun Fu, Russell K. Denney, Jimmy C. Tai, and Dimitri N. Mavris, An Architecture-based Product Growth Approach to Ground-based Gas Turbine Conceptual Design, AIAA Paper 2017-4897, 53rd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, Atlanta, GA, July 10-12, 2017
  6. Ashwin Renganathan, Russell K. Denney, Antoine Duquerrois, and Dimitri N. Mavris, Validation and Assessment of Lower Order Aerodynamics Based Design of Ram Air Turbines, AIAA Paper 2014-3463, 12th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, Cleveland, OH, July 28-30, 2014
  7. Russell K. Denney, Brian K. Kestner, and Dimitri N.Mavris, Compressor Modeling and Simulation Using Object-Oriented Turbomachinery Analysis Code (OTAC), AIAA Paper 2014-3927, presented at the 50th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, Cleveland, OH, July 28-30, 2014
  8. Mohammed Hassan, Jimmy C. Tai, Russell K. Denney, and Benjamin Havrilesko, En Route Jet Aircraft Noise Analysis, AIAA Paper 2014-3163, AIAA/3AF Aircraft Noise and Emissions Reduction Symposium, Atlanta, GA, June 16-20, 2014
  9. Russell K. Denney, Jonathan Gladin, Preston Cupp, Jimmy C. Tai and Dimitri N. Mavris, Propulsion Systems Modeling with Vehicle Sketch Pad, AIAA Paper 2013-224, 51st AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Grapevine, TX, 7-10 January 2013
  10. Russell K. Denney, Jimmy Tai, and Dimitri Mavris, Emissions Prediction for Aircraft Conceptual Design, AIAA Paper 2012-4273, 48th AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference, Atlanta, GA, 30 July-1 August 2012
  11. Russell K. Denney, Jimmy Tai, and Dimitri Mavris, Parametric Geometry for Propulsion-Airframe Integration, AIAA Paper 2012-0548, 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Nashville, TN, 9-12 January 2012
  12. Reza Rezvani, R.K. Denney, and D.N. Mavris, A Design-Oriented Semi-Analytical Emissions Prediction Method for Gas Turbine Combustors, AIAA Paper 2009-704, 47th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Orlando, FL, January 5-8, 2009
  13. V. Iyengar, L.N. Sankar, and R. Denney, A First-Principles Based Methodology for Design of Axial Compressor Configurations, ASME Paper 2007GT-27513, International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, Montreal, Canada, May 14-17, 2007
  14. R. K. Denney, J.C. Tai, B.K. Kestner, and D.N. Mavris, Variable Cycle Optimization for Supersonic Commercial Applications, SAE Paper 2005-01-3400, SAE Transactions 2005, Vol. 114, no. 1, pp. 1354-1361, World Aerospace Congress, Dallas, TX, October 2005
  15. F.L. Csavina and R.K. Denney, A Global Approach in Evaluating Inlet/Engine Compatibility, ASME Paper 91-GT-402, International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, Orlando, FL, June 3-6, 1991

  • Senior Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)