Abstract: A rotating detonation engine（RDE） was test to study the initiation and propagation characteristics of kerosene fuel rotating detonation wave. The inner diameter, outer diameter and length of RDE annular combustor are 120 mm, 153 mm and 240 mm, respectively. It is ignited by a hydrogen/oxygen micro-pulse detonation engine with kerosene and oxygen-rich air used as fuel and oxidant, respectively. The initiation process and propagation of gas-liquid two-phase rotating detonation wave, and the operation characteristics of engine are analyzed from high-frequency pressure signals in combustor. The test results indicate that the reactivity of mixtures plays an important role on the initiation of detonation wave. When the content of oxygen in the oxidant is low, the reactivity of the mixture is low, and the rotating detonation wave fails to be initiated. It is until the oxygen content increases to 39.2% that the rotating detonation wave can be formed. The rotating detonation wave always propagates in two-wave collision mode with the wave velocity range of 815-920 m/s after successful initiation. The velocity of detonation wave tends to rise with the increase in equivalence ratio under lean fuel condition. The engine mainly works in a deflagration mode when the mass flow rate of air is more than 822 g/s. Key

Key words: rotatingdetonationengine, gas-liquidtwo-phase, rotatingdetonationwave, kerosenefuel, initiationandpropagationcharacteristics