William (Billy) D.E. Allan

Billy Allan
Dr.
William (Billy) D.E. Allan
B.Eng.(RMC), M.A.Sc., DPhil(oxon), P.Eng., LCol.(ret'd), Professor, Qualified Flight Test Engineer
Office:
SB2208
Telephone:
(613) 541-6000 ext 6120
Fax:
(613) 542-8612
E-mail:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

College Address

Royal Military College of Canada
PO Box 17000, Station Forces
Kingston, Ontario, CANADA
K7K 7B4

Brief History

Dr. Allan joined the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at RMC as an assistant professor and Airforce Major in 2001. Promoted to Associate Professor and to Lieutenant Colonel in 2005, he focused on the development of the establishment of an Aeronautical Engineering Programme at RMC. He received his B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from Royal Roads Military College and RMC in 1986. His Masters of Applied Science was on external aerodynamics, studying for Prof. G.V. Parkinson at the University of British Columbia. A Rhodes Scholar from B.C., Dr. Allan completed his Doctorate at Oxford studying unsteady aerodynamics on turbomachinery for Dr. R.W. Ainsworth of the Osney Laboratory. His Airforce experience included time as a propulsion engineer in Trenton and, having completed the year-long course at Empire Test Pilot's School, Dr. Allan worked for over five (5) years as an experimental flight test engineer at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment in Cold Lake, Alberta. His undergraduate teaching currently includes aircraft performance, stability and control, aerospace propulsion, and he has taught fluid mechanics, heat transfer in past years. At the graduate level he teaches internal aerodynamics and currently he is researching turbomachinery, internal aerodynamics and gas turbine combustion. He was promoted titular professor in 2015.


Schlieren image from the Transonic Turbine Cascade

Specializations and Research Interests (Keywords)

  • Internal Aerodynamics of Turbines and Compressors
  • Experimental Combustion Chamber Studies
  • Novel turbomachinery blade geometries


Exit Temperature distribution from the Combustion Chamber Sector Rig

 

Teaching Interests

  • Aircraft Performance
  • Aircraft Stability & Control
  • Gas Turbines
  • Heat Transfer
  • Fluid Mechanics

Laboratories used for Research and Teaching


Instrumented Axial Compressor Section


High Speed Axial Compressor Rig

 

Memberships

  • Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI) - member
  • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) – member
  • Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers (CSME) - member
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Internal Gas Turbine Institute (ASME-IGTI) - member
  • Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) - PEng

Prizes and Awards

  • RMC Class of 1965 Teaching Excellence Award – 2013
  • Rhodes Scholarship, B.C. and St. John's College, 1987
  • NSERC Scholarship, U.B.C., 1986
  • DND Award of Merit, RMC, 1986

Publications

Selected Recent Journal & Conference Publications

Journals:

  • S.G. Leithead, W.D.E. Allan and L. Zhao, “Performance Metrics and Experimental Testing of Erosion-Resistant Compressor Blade Coatings”, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 137(5), 052101 May 01, 2015
  • D. Bouchard, A. Asghar, M. LaViolette and W.D.E. Allan, “Experimental Evaluation of Service-Exposed Nozzle Guide Vane Damage in a Rolls Royce A-250 Gas Turbine”, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 136(10), 102601 (May 02, 2014).
  • S. Andrews, R.E. Perez, and W.D.E. Allan, "Aerodynamic Implications of Gulls’ Drooped Wing-Tips”, Bioinspir. Biomim. 8 (2013) 046003.
  • G.G.W. Lee, W.D.E. Allan and K. Goni Boulama, “Flow and Performance Characteristics of an Allison 250 Gas Turbine S-Shaped Diffuser: Effects of Geometry Variations”, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, Volume 42, August 2013, pp: 151–163
  • G. Pucher, W. Allan, and P. Poitras, “Characteristics of Deposits in Gas Turbine Combustion Chambers Using Synthetic and Conventional Jet Propellants”, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 135, No. 7,  pp. 071502-1 - 071502-8, July 2013.
  • R. Edwards, Asghar, A., Goni Boulama, K., Woodason, R., LaViolette, M., and Allan, W, “Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Real World Blade Profile Variations on the Aerodynamic Performance of Transonic Nozzle Guide Vanes”, J.Turbomach, Vol. 134, No. 2, March 2012.

Refereed Conferences:

  • W.D.E. Allan, J.P. Gostelow and S. Hogg, “Experimental Study of Streamwise Vortex Formation on Swept Circular Cylinders in Cross-flow”, GT2015-43847, ASME Turbo Expo, Montreal, June 2015.
  • A. Asghar, R.A. Stowe, W.D.E. Allan and D. Alexander, “Performance Evaluation of an S-Duct Diffuser of a Flight-Vehicle Inlet in High-Subsonic Flow”, GT2015-43740, ASME Turbo Expo, Dusseldorf, Germany June 2014.
  • J. Ilott, W.D.E. Allan, A. Asghar, “Application of Complex Demodulation for Pseudo-Key-Phasor Recovery from Fast-Response Pressure Measurements”, GT2014-27093, ASME Turbo Expo, Dusseldorf, Germany June 2014.
  • W.D.E. Allan, A. Asghar, M. LaViolette, R. Woodason, “Influence of a Novel 3D Leading Edge Geometry on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Low Pressure Turbine Blade”, GT2014-25899, ASME Turbo Expo, Dusseldorf, Germany June 2014.
  • S.G. Leithead, W.D.E. Allan and L. Zhao, “Performance Metrics and Experimental Testing of Erosion-Resistant Compressor Blade Coatings”,  GT2014-25066, ASME Turbo Expo, Dusseldorf, Germany June 2014
  • J.W. Ilott, W.D.E. Allan, A. Asghar, and R. Woodason, “Characterization of the Discharge Flow of a Dual Volute Axi-Centrifugal Gas Turbine Compressor”, AIAA-2013-3633, 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 14-17 July 2013, San Jose, California
  • D. Bouchard, A. Asghar, M. LaViolette and W.D.E. Allan, “Experimental Evaluation of Service-Exposed Nozzle Guide Vane Damage in a Rolls Royce A-250 Gas Turbine”, GT2013-95608, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2013, San Antonio, U.S.A. June 3-7, 2013.
  • R. Edwards, A. Asghar, W.D.E. Allan, M. LaViolette and R. Woodason, “Influence of Engine Representative Freestream Turbulence on the Aerodynamic Performance of Transonic Nozzle Guide Vanes”, GT2013-95620, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2013, San Antonio, U.S.A. June 3-7, 2013.
  • D. Bouchard, A. Asghar, J. Hardes, R. Edwards, W.D.E. Allan and M. LaViolette, “Influence of a Novel Three-dimensional Leading Edge Geometry on the Aerodynamic Performance of Transonic Cascade Vanes”, ASME Paper GT2012-69926, ASME Turbo Expo, June 11-15, 2012, Copenhagen.
  • J. Illot and W.E. Allan, “Development and Evaluation of a High-Frequency Response Signal Conditioning Amplifier for Miniature, Silicon Bridge Type Pressure Transducers”, ASME Paper GT2012-7036, ASME Turbo Expo, June 11-15, 2012, Copenhagen
  • Ilott, J., Asghar, A., Allan, W., and Woodason, R., “Further Investigation of the Influence of Real-World Blade Profile Variation on the Aerodynamic Performance of Transonic Nozzle Guide Vanes”, GT2011-46558, ASME Turbo Expo, Vancouver, B.C., June 6-10, 2011
  • D. Bouchard, G. Pucher and W.D. Allan, “Can-annular Combustion Chamber Surface Temperature Measurements and Damage Signatures at Operationally Representative Conditions”, GT2011-46639, ASME Turbo Expo, Vancouver, B.C., June 6-10, 2011
  • D. Gardiner, W.D. Allan. and M. LaViolette, “Development of a Spark Discharge Sensor for Measurement of Engine-Out Soot Emissions”, ICEF2010-35141, 2010 Fall Technical Conference of the ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division , San Antonio, CA, Sept. 12-15, 2010.

Selected Journal & Conference Publications and Presentations

  • W.D. Allan, R. Ainsworth and S. Thorpe, "Unsteady Heat Transfer Measurements from Transonic Turbine Blades at Engine Representative Conditions in a Transient Facility", Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 130, No. 4, July 2008, pp. 041901-1-12.
  • R. Edwards, A. Asghar, K., Goni Boulama, R., Woodason, M., LaViolette and W. Allan, Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Real World Blade Profile Variations on the Aerodynamic Performance of Transonic Nozzle Guide Vanes, Journal of Turbomachinery Parts A, B and C, Volume 7, 2010.
  • S. Andrews and W.D.E. Allan, "Optimizing Streamwise Stagger of a Pin Fin Array to Achieve Low Pressure Loss", ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2008-66683, Oct. 31 - Nov. 6, 2008, MA.
  • Clayton Kotzer, Marc LaViolette, and W.D.E. Allan, "Study of Combustion Chamber Geometry Upon Exit Temperature Profiles for Populations With Varied Service Limitations", Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 133, Issue 11, November 2011.
  • L. Bennett and W.D.E. Allan, "Examination of Rotating Stall Inception in a Small High Speed Axial Compressor", ASME Turbo Expo 2009, GT2009-59420, Orlando, FLA, June 8-12, 2009.
  • A. Asghar, R. Woodason and W.D.E. Allan, "Assessment of the Flow Quality of a Transonic Turbine Cascade", ASME Turbo Expo 2009, GT2009-60164, Orlando, FLA, June 8-12, 2009.
  • G. Pucher, W.D.E. Allan and P. Poitras, "Emissions from a Gas Turbine Sector Rig Operated with Synthetic Aviation and Biodiesel Fuel", Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, Vol. 133, Issue 11, November 2011.
  • D.P. Gardiner, G. Pucher, W.D. Allan and M. LaViolette, "Flame-Out Detection for Gas Turbine Engines Based Upon Thermocouple Signal Analysis", ASME Turbo Expo 2006, Barcelona Spain, May 8-11, 2006.
  • W.D. Allan, M. LaViolette and D.P. Gardiner, "Evaluation of a Spark Discharge Particulate Matter Sensor in a Turbocharged Diesel Engine", Proceedings of the ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division 2007 Fall Technical Conference ICEF2007, ICEF2007-1739, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, October 14-17, 2007.
  • W.D. Allan, M. LaViolette, D. Gardiner, G. Pucher, L. Bennett and M. Turingia, "Emissions Testing from the Use of Various Biodiesel Blends in Representative Canadian Army Equipment", 2007 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE2007-43511, Seattle WA, Nov. 11-15, 2007.
  • D.P. Gardiner, G. Wang, M.F. Bardon, M. LaViolette and W.D. Allan, "An Experimental Study of Spark Anemometry for In-Cylinder Velocity Measurements", Proceedings of ICEF2006, ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division 2006 Fall Technical Conference, ICEF2006-1529, Sacramento, California, USA, November 5-8, 2006.
  • G. Pucher, P.R. Underhill, W. Allan, G. Wang and S. Guy, "Fuel Nozzle Performance Analysis Using Laser Techniques and Combustion Chamber with Optical Access", ASME Turbo Expo 2006, Barcelona, Spain, May 8-11, 2006.
  • W.D.E. Allan and G. Pucher, "Turbine Fuel Ignition and Combustion Facility for Extremely Low Temperature Conditions", ASME Turbo Exp - Power for Land, Sea and Air, Vienna, Austria, June 14-17, 2004.
  • W.D.E. Allan and G. Pucher, "Development of a Cold-Starting Sector Rig for Gas Turbine Fuel Ignition Studies", CASI 9th Aerodynamics Conference, Montreal, Quebec, April 28-30, 2003.
  • R.W. Ainsworth, W.D.E. Allan, T.V. Jones, T. Garside, N.W. Harvey and C. Kingcombe, "Experimental Heat Transfer Results in Turbine Stators and Rotors and a Comparison with Theory", Proceedings of the 3rd European Propulsion Forum, Paris, 1991.
  • G.V. Parkinson, W. Yeung and W.D.E. Allan, "The Prediction and Exploitation of Separated Flow", Proceedings of the Royal Aeronautical Society, April 18-20, 1989.
  • G.R. Pucher and W.D.E. Allan, "Gas Turbine Altitude Relight Facility For Extremely Low Temperature Conditions", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section, Spring Technical Meeting, Kingston, ON, May 9-12, 2004.

Selected Technical Reports

  • J. Ilott and W. Allan, ""Conceptual Design of a High Speed Centrifugal Compressor Test Rig", Thousand Island Fluids Meeting, April 23-25, 2010, Lansdowne, ON.
  • R, Massouh and W. Allan, "A Methodology and Test Rig for Durability Testing of Gas Turbine Blade Erosion Coatings", Thousand Island Fluids Meeting, April 23-25, 2010, Lansdowne, ON.
  • R. Edwards, Asghar, A., Goni Boulama, K., Woodason, R., LaViolette, M., and Allan, W., "Investigation of the Influence of Real World Blade Profile Variations on the Aerodynamic Performance of Transonic Nozzle Guide Vanes", Thousand Island Fluids Meeting, April 23-25, 2010, Lansdowne, ON
  • D.P. Gardiner, G.R. Pucher, W.D. Allan and M. LaViolette, "Development of a Spark Discharge Sensor for Measurement of Engine-Out Soot Emissions", Proceedings of Combustion Institute - Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Université de Montréal, Québec, May 11-13, 2009.
  • G. Pucher and W.D. Allan, "Emissions from a Gas Turbine Sector Rig Operated with Synthetic Aviation and Biodiesel Fuel", Proceedings of Combustion Institute - Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Université de Montréal, Québec, May 11-13, 2009.
  • L.G.N. Bennett, W.D.E. Allan, "A High Speed Axial Compressor Test Rig to Support Internal Aerodynamic Studies", Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute AERO'09 Conference Propulsion Symposium, Ottawa, Ontario May 3-5, 2009
  • G. Pucher and W.D. Allan, "Emissions from a Gas Turbine Sector Rig Operated with Synthetic Aviation and Biodiesel Fuel", Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute AERO'09 Conference Propulsion Symposium, Ottawa, Ontario May 3-5, 2009.
  • D.P. Gardiner, G. Wang, M.F. Bardon, M. LaViolette and W.D. Allan, An Experimental Study of Spark Anemometry for In-Cylinder Velocity Measurements, Combustion Institute Spring Technical Meeting, Banff, Alberta May 13-16, 2007.
  • D. Gardiner and W.D. Allan, "Development of a Particulate Matter (PM) Sensor for Diesel Engines", Invited Presentation to USCAR Crosscut Diesel Program, Detroit, MI, January 2007.
  • D.P. Gardiner, G. Pucher, W.D. Allan and M. LaViolette, "Flame-Out Detection for Gas Turbine Engines Based Upon Thermocouple Signal Analysis", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Waterloo, 14-17 May 2006.
  • S. Guy and W.D. Allan, "Scaling of a Gas Turbine Combustion Chamber Test Rig to Simulate Operational Conditions", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Waterloo, 14-17 May 2006.
  • G. Pucher and W. Allan, "Emissions Testing of CF Jet Fuels in a Laboratory Rig", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Waterloo, 14-17 May 2006.
  • D. Gardiner and W.D. Allan, "Development of a Particulate Matter (PM) Sensor for Diesel Engines", Invited Presentation to USCAR Crosscut Diesel Program, Detroit, MI, January 2006.
  • W.D. Allan, M. LaViolette, D. Gould and D.P. Gardiner Further, "Development of a Smoke Sensor for Diesel Engines", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section, Spring Technical Meeting, Halifax, ON May 15-18, 2005.
  • P.R. Underhill, G. Pucher, W. Allan, G. Wang, S. Guy and B. Caekaert, "Investigation of Fuel Spray Patterns Under Combusting Conditions", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section, Spring Technical Meeting, Halifax, ON May 15-18, 2005.
  • D.P. Gardiner and W.D. Allan, "Development of a Smoke Sensor for Diesel Engines", Invited oral and poster presentation at PERD Particles POL Retro- and Prospective Look at Particles POL Research May 16, 2005 Natural Resources Canada Ottawa, Ontario.
  • D.P. Gardiner and W.D. Allan, "Further Development of a Smoke Sensor for Diesel Engines", Invited oral and poster presentation at PERD Particles POL Retro- and Prospective Look at Particles POL Research May 16, 2005 Natural Resources Canada Ottawa, Ontario.
  • D.P. Gardiner and W.D. Allan, "Further Development of a Smoke Sensor for Diesel Engines", Invited poster presentation at Emission Reduction and Energy Efficiency Workshop 2005, Oct. 20, 2005 Natural Resources Canada Ottawa, Ontario.
  • D.P. Gardiner and W.D. Allan, "Condition Monitoring for Canadian Patrol Frigate (CPF) Diesel Generator Engines Using Exhaust Thermocouples", Invited poster presentation at Emission Reduction and Energy Efficiency Workshop 2005, Oct. 20, 2005 Natural Resources Canada Ottawa, Ontario.
  • G.R. Pucher and W.D.E. Allan, "Development of a Cold Starting Sector Rig For Gas Turbine Fuel Ignition Studies", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section, Spring Technical Meeting, Kingston, ON May 9-12, 2004.
  • N. Cai, W.D. Allan and A. Benaissa, "Aerodynamic Characteristics Of A Rotating Blade At Design And Pre-Stall Points", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section, Spring Technical Meeting, Kingston, ON May 9-12, 2004.
  • D.P. Gardiner, W.D.E. Allan, R.D. Freeman, G.R. Pucher, D. Faux and M.F. Bardon, "Development Of A Smoke Sensor For Diesel Engines", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section, Spring Technical Meeting, Kingston, ON May 9-12, 2004.
  • G.R. Pucher and W.D.E. Allan, "Gas Turbine Altitude Relight Facility For Extremely Low Temperature Conditions", Combustion Institute, Canadian Section, Spring Technical Meeting, Kingston, ON May 9-12, 2004.

Technical Reports

  • W.D.E. Allan, "Development of Test Rig to Assess Erosion of Turbomachinery Blade Coatings", Mechanical Engineering Report #110502, prepared for Canadian Air Force, DND, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0K2, May 2011.
  • W.D.E. Allan, "Temperature Survey of T56 Combustion Liner", Mechanical Engineering Report #110503, prepared for Canadian Air Force, DND, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0K2, May 2011.
  • L. Bennett and W. Allan, "Modelling of Subsonic Cruise Missile Intakes", Technical Report #110401 for DRDC Valcartier, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston ON April 2011
  • L. Bennett and W. Allan, "Evaluation of Intake Performance Models Used in Missile Performance Simulation", Technical Report #110402 for DRDC Valcartier, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston ON April 2011
  • G. Pucher, W.D. Allan and S. Guy, "Emissions Study of JP-8 Thermal Stability Additives", Mechanical Engineering Report #070601, prepared for Quality Engineering Test Establishment, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0K2.
  • M. LaViolette, W.D. Allan, G. Pucher, D. Gardiner and S. Guy, "Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) Sensing and Signal Processing for CF Aeropropulsion Engines", Mechanical Engineering Report #070503, Progress Report to AERAC, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario.
  • W.D. Allan, D. Page, M. LaViolette, D. Gardiner, K. Farahani, A. Krasteva, L. Bennett and G. Pucher, "Biodiesel Fuel and Emission Testing on Military Equipment", Mechanical Engineering Report #070401, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario, May 2006.
  • G. Pucher, S. Guy and W.D. Allan, "Emissions Testing of CF Jet Fuels in a Scaled Laboratory Rig", Mechanical Engineering Report 060402, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, April 2006.
  • P.R. Underhill, W.D. Allan G. Pucher and M. LaViolette , "Exploration of Hot Section Sensitivity to T56 Fuel Nozzles and Combustion Chamber Geometry Tolerances", Mechanical Engineering Report #060405, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, April 2006.
  • M. LaViolette, W.D. Allan, G. Pucher, D. Gardiner and S. Guy, "Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) Sensing and Signal Processing for CF Aeropropulsion Engines", Technical Report to DGAEPM(TH) 2-3-2 AERAC Project #: RMC-2004-4, ME050403, Royal Military College, Kingston ON, August 2005.
  • W.D. Allan, R. Underhill, G. Pucher, S. Guy, B. Caekaert and G. Wang, "Investigation of Fuel Spray Patterns Under Combusting Conditions", Technical Report to DGAEPM(TH) 2-3-2, AERAC Project #: RMC-2004-3, ME050401, Royal Military College, Kingston ON, April 2005.
  • M. LaViolette, D. Gardiner, W.D. Allan, G. Pucher and S. Guy, "High Frequency Response of High Temperature Capable Thermocouples Through Signal Processing: Study Evaluating the Suitability of Replacing Existing Optical Flame Sensors with Thermocouple-Based Devices", Technical Report to DGAEPM(FT) 2-3-4, AERAC Project #: RMC-2004-2, ME050403, Royal Military College, Kingston ON, March 2005.
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