Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra
Faculty Image

Dr. Rajiv Kumar

Joined Institute on : 31-Mar-2015

  • Assistant Professor
  • Space Engineering and Rocketry
  • Ph.D (IIT Madras)
Contact Address

D-I/53, Inner Campus, Near Hostel-9, BIT Mesra, Ranchi-835215 (Jharkhand)

S/O-Late Sri Biranchi Sah, Vill-Dudhela, PO-Bharatkhand Dyorhi, Dist-Bhagalpur-853203 (Bihar)

  • Phone Office - 9962388460
  • Phone Residence - 9546209234 (WhatsApp)
  • Email - rajiv@bitmesra.ac.in
Work Experience

Teaching : 11 Years

Research : 18 Years

Individual: 11 Years
Professional Background

BE (Propulsion)-Aeronautical Society of India, New Delhi (Feb 2005)

ME (Rocket Propulsion)- Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi (June 2007)

PhD (Hybrid Rocket Propulsion)- Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai (Feb 2014)

Assistant Professor in Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Vel Tech Technical University, Avadi, Chennai from 03 March, 2014 to 26th March, 2015.

Assistant Professor, Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi from 31st March, 2015 to Till date.
Research Areas
  • Propellant combustion
  • Rocket and Propellant Technology
  • Heat transfer in a aerospace propulsion system
  • Air breathing and Non-air breathing propulsion
Award and Honours
  • Best Researcher award in 2021
  • Reviewer of Journal of Aerospace Engineering
  • Reviewer of Journal of Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management
  • Reviewer of Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
  • Reviewer of Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
  • Reviewer of Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering 
  • Reviewer of Acta Astronautica Journal 
  • Reviewer of Combustion and Flame Journal
  • Reviewer of International Journal of Turbo & Jet Engines
  • Best student award in 1997
  • Reviewer of Combustion and Flame Journal
  • Reviewer of Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering 
  • Reviewer of Journal of Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management
  • Reviewer of Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
  • Reviewer of Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
  • Reviewer of Journal of Fuel
  • Reviewers under the INSPIRE Awards-MANAK for the year 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-2022.
  • Best Researchers Award in 2021 on New Science Inventions by Science Father
  • Invited lecture in one-week International Webinar on Rocket Propulsion organized by SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai on 19th October, 2020.
  • Motivational speech in the events organized by voyager model rocketry organisation for disabled students on 1st June, 2021.
  • Chief guest speaker in the Students in India conduct research organized by voyager model rocketry organisation on 6th June, 2021.
  • Jury Member for the district level Exhibition and Project competition under Inspire Award Manak Scheme 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2022-2023.
  • Jury Member for the State level Exhibition and Project competition under Inspire Award Manak Scheme 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2022-2023.
  • Motivational speech on the Design Concept for Innovation in the national level exhibition and project competition organized at BIT Mesra, Ranchi
  • External Question Paper setter for Introduction to Aircraft Engineering and Design of Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology for year 19-20, 20-21 and 21-22.
  • Reviewer for three conference paper submitted to ERCAM-2019 conference organized by Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India, July 25-26, 2019.
  • External Examiner for the MTech 3rd Semester of Mechanical Engineering Department
  • Invited lecture in two days Seminar on Advances in Aerospace Propulsion Technology organized by Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India, 27– 28 December 2022.
  • Invited lecture in one week FDP program on Advances in Aerospace Technology organized by Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, 11th to 16th, March 2023.
  • Session chairperson for two of the session of the NAPC conference organized by IIT Bombay during 19-20 December, 2022.
  • Invited lecture in a Mentorship Workshop at Ranchi on the Patenting and Commercial aspects of Innovation in the INSPIRE Awards-MANAK organized at Zila School, Ranchi on 5th May, 2023.
  • Invited lecture in one day Workshop on “Aerospace Combustion” organized by Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Bombay on 5th March, 2024.
Publications

 International Journals:

  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Issues Related to the Measurement of Regression Rate of Fast Burning Hybrid Fuels”, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol-29, No-5, 2013, pp. 1114-1121. 
  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Enhancement of Hybrid Fuel Regression Rate Using a Bluff Body”, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol-30, No-4, 2014, pp. 909-916. 
  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Measurement of Regression Rate in Hybrid Rocket Using Combustion Chamber Pressure”, Acta Astronautica, Vol-103, 2014, pp. 226-234. 
  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Effect of Protrusion in the Enhancement of Regression Rate in Hybrid Rockets”, Aerospace Science and Technology, Vol-39, 2014, pp. 169-178. 
  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Studies on EVA Based Wax Fuel for Launch Vehicle Applications”, Propellant, Explosive and Pyrotechnic, Vol-41, Issue-2, 2016, pp.295-303. 
  • Pratim Kumar, P. C. Joshi and Rajiv Kumar, “Thermal Decomposition and Combustion Studies of Catalyzed AN/KDN Based Solid Propellants”, Combustion and Flame,  Vol-166, 2016, pp. 316-332.
  • Shelly Biswas, D. K. Sharma and Rajiv Kumar, "Effect of ZSM-5 Catalyst on Co-cracking of Jatropha oil with bagasse" Carbon-Science and Technology, Vol-8, Issue-3, 2016, pp. 46-51. 
  • Pratim Kumar, P. C. Joshi and Rajiv Kumar, “Thermal Decomposition and Kinetic Studies of AN, KDN and Their Mixture With and Without Catalysts”, Central European Journal of Energetic Materials, Vol-14, Issue-1, 2017, pp. 184-200. 
  • Pratim Kumar, P. C. Joshi, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, "Catalytic Effect of Cu-Co* on the Thermal Decomposition of AN/KDN based Green Oxidizer and Propellant Samples" Defence Technology, Vol-14, 2018, pp. 250-260. 
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, "Development of EVA-SEBS Based Wax Fuel for Hybrid Rocket Applications" Acta Astronautica, Vol-152, 2018, pp. 325-334. 
  • S. Aravind and Rajiv Kumar, "Supersonic Combustion of Hydrogen Using an Improved Strut Injection Scheme", International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol-44, Issue-12, 2019, pp. 6257-6270.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, "Utility of Multi-Protrusion as the Performance Enhancer in Hybrid Rocket Motor" Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol-35, No. 5 2019, pp. 1005-1017. 
  • Richa Sinha, Brijesh Patel and Rajiv Kumar, "Design and Fabrication of Automatic Rain Sensing Car Wiper", International Journal of Advance Research and Innovative Ideas in Education, Vol-6, Issue-2, 2020, pp. 797-800.
  • Bala Vignesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of multi-location swirl injection on the performance of hybrid rocket motor” Acta Astronautica, Vol-176, 2020, pp. 111-123.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Experimental Studies of Protrusion Inserted Hybrid Rocket Motor with Varying L/D Ratio”, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 58, No. 1, 2021, pp. 134-147.
  • Pratim Kumar and Rajiv Kumar, “Heat of Combustion Studies for Carbon Black Mixed ADN, KDN and AP Oxidizer”, Science and Technology of Energetic Materials, Vol. 81, No. 4, 2020.
  • Mengu Dinesh, Saideep Singh Rajput and Rajiv Kumar, “Protrusion Effect on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket with Liquefying and Non-Liquefying Fuels” Acta Astronautica, Vol-178, 2021, pp.536-547.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Protrusion on Combustion Stability of Hybrid Rocket Motor”, Propellant, Explosive and Pyrotechnic, Vol-47, Issue-4, 2022.
  • Gaurav Marothiya, Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Enhancing the Regression Rate of Hydroxyl-Terminated-Polybutadiene-Based Mixed Hybrid Rockets”, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol-38, No. 4, July 2022.
  • V. Vani Pooja and Rajiv kumar, “Studies of Jet A1 Fuel Atomization Through Non-Circular Orifices”, Defence Science Journal, Vol. 73, No. 3, May 2023, pp. 270-278, DOI : 10.14429/dsj.73.17893.
  • Gyandeep and Rajiv Kumar, “Performance Estimation by Varying the Grain Port Alignment Position in a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, Defence Science Journal, 74(2), 225-233, 2024. https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.74.19641.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Evaluation of combustion stability of single and multi-protrusion inserted hybrid rocket motor”, Acta Astronautica, Vol.-219, 2024, 761-773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.03.054
  • Mehdi Abbas, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Effect on the performance of a hybrid rocket using AP in the PVC and HTPB-based hybrid fuel”, FirePhysChem, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpc.2024.08.004
  • Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Performance estimation of hybrid rocket by varying the flow rate at multi-location swirl injector”, FirePhysChem, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpc.2024.08.001
  • Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Experimental Studies on Swirl Injector with varying L/D Ratio of Hybrid Rocket Motor”, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, Volume 112, March 2025, 109734.

National Journal:

  • Nitesh Kumar, Bala Vignesh D and Rajiv Kumar, Effect of Adding Ammonium Perchlorate on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor, Annual Technical Volume of Aerospace Engineering Division Board, Vol. III, 2019.

International Conference:

  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Issues Related to the regression rate of the fast burning hybrid Fuels”, 8th Asia Pacific Conference on Combustion, Hyderabad, India, December-2010, pp. 652-659.
  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Effect of Protrusion in the Enhancement of Regression Rate in Hybrid Rockets”, AIAA-2011-5913, 47th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, San Diego, California, July 31-3, 2011.
  • Gaurav Marothiya, Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Enhancement of Regression Rate in Hybrid Rockets”, AIAA-2011-5911, 47th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, San Diego, California, July 31-3, 2011.
  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Enhancement of Regression Rate Using Bluff body in Hybrid Fuels”, 9th International Conference on Flow Dynamics, Sendai, Japan, September 19-21, 2012, pp. 246-247.
  • Hiteshwar Brahma, Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Improving the Mechanical Properties of Paraffin based Hybrid Fuels”, 9th International Conference on Flow Dynamics, Sendai, Japan, September 19-21, 2012, pp. 254-255.
  • Rajiv Kumar and P. A. Ramakrishna, “Possible Use of Wax Based Hybrid Rocket for a Launch Vehicle Application”, 9th International High Energy Material Conference and Exhibits, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, February 13-15, 2014.
  • Deepanshu Verma, Kamlendra Vikram, Randhwa Singh Jat and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Injector Diameter on Regression Rate in a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, SEDS International Conference VIT University, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India, March 13-14, 2015.
  • R. Pryadharshini and Rajiv Kumar, “Preliminary Design of PSLV First Stage Using an Advanced Solid Propellant”, SEDS International Conference VIT University, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India, March 13-14, 2015.
  • Pratim Kumar, Rajiv Kumar and P. C. Joshi, "Thermal Decomposition and Kinetic Studies of AN Based Green Oxidizers", International Conference on Alternative Energy Sources, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, India, January 29-30, 2016.
  • Shelly Biswas, D. K. Sharma and Rajiv Kumar, "Effect of ZSM-5 Catalyst on Co-cracking of Jatropha Oil with Bagasse", International Conference on Alternative Energy Sources, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, India, January 29-30, 2016.
  • Talluri Vamsi Krishna and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Multi-Protrusion on Regression Rate in a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, 10th International High Energy Material Conference and Exhibits, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, February 11-13, 2016.
  • Shelly Biswas, D. K. Sharma and Rajiv Kumar, Response surface modeling for optimization of co-cracking of jatropha oil, International Conference on Chemical Engineering and Advanced Polymeric Material, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, India, August18-20, 2016.
  • Pratim Kumar, Rajiv Kumar, and Puran Chandra Joshi, “Thermal Decomposition and Stabilization Studies of ADN with AN impurities in the Presence of Catalysts”, 1stInternational Conference on Modern Research in Aerospace Engineering 22-23rd  September 2016, Amity University, Noida.
  • Pratim Kumar, Rajiv Kumar, and Puran Chandra Joshi, “Studies of Heat of Combustion for AP, ADN, and KDN Pellets mixed with Carbon Black”, 4th International Conference on Recent Developments in Science, Engineering and Technology (REDSET 2017) October 13-14, 2017, GD Goenka University, Gurgaon (DELHI-NCR) INDIA.
  • Arvind S and Rajiv Kumar, “3 D Numerical Investigation of Hydrogen Combustion in Scramjet to Enhance Combustion Efficiency”, 11th International High Energy Material Conference and Exhibits, Pune, India, Nov 23-25, 2017, pp. 66-73.
  • Talluri Vamsi Krishna, Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Study on the Improvement of Regression Rate and Combustion Efficiency in Hybrid Rocket Motor Using Multi-Protrusion", 11th International High Energy Material Conference and Exhibits, Pune, India, Nov 23-25, 2017, pp. 158-164.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Combined Effect of Paraffin and Microcrystalline Wax on Mechanical Properties and Regression Rate of Hybrid Rocket Motor", 11th International High Energy Material Conference and Exhibits, Pune, India, Nov 23-25, 2017, pp. 133-138.
  • Singeetham Pranaykumar and Rajiv kumar, “Effect of Liquid Fuel Injection on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor”, International Conference on “Emerging Technologies, Systems and Applications”, Jhrakhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 21-22 April, 2018.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Polymeric Additives on Mechanical Properties and Combustion Characteristics of Wax based fuels for Hybrid Rocket Applications”, International Conference on “Emerging Technologies, Systems and Applications”, Jhrakhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 21-22 April, 2018.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Investigation on Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor with Non-Conventional Protrusion Configuration”, Proceedings of Seventh Asian Joint Workshop on Thermophysics and Fluid Science, November 21-24, 2018, Trivandrum, India, pp. 533-539.
  • Singeetham Pranay Kumar, V. Vani Pooja and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Injector Configuration on the Performance of Tribrid Rocket Engine”, Proceedings of Seventh Asian Joint Workshop on Thermophysics and Fluid Science, November 21-24, 2018, Trivandrum, India, pp. 598-604.
  • Bala Vignesh D and Rajiv Kumar, "Study on the Performance of Swirling Oxidizer Injection on the Post Combustion Chamber of Hybrid Rocket Motor", 12th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2019, Dec.16 – 18, 2019, IIT Madras, Chennai, INDIA.
  • Bala Vignesh D and Rajiv Kumar, "Effect of Multi-Location Swirl Injection on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor", 12th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2019, Dec.16 – 18, 2019, IIT Madras, Chennai, INDIA.
  • V. Vani Pooja and Rajiv Kumar, "Characterization Studies of Different L/D Non-Circular Orifice Showerhead Injectors", 12th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2019, Dec.16 – 18, 2019, IIT Madras, Chennai, INDIA.
  • V. Vani Pooja and Rajiv Kumar, "Studies of Liquid Jet Atomization Through Non-Circular Orifices", 12th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2019, Dec.16 – 18, 2019, IIT Madras, Chennai, INDIA. 
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, "Studies of Wax-Ammonium Perchlorate Based Fuels for Hybrid Rocket Applications", 12th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2019, Dec.16 – 18, 2019, IIT Madras, Chennai, INDIA. 
  • P Lakshmi and Rajiv Kumar, “Experimental Studies on Solid Propellant Based Micro Thrusters", 13th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2022, May 26 – 28, 2022, TBRL, Chandigarh, INDIA.
  • Alok Kumar and Rajiv Kumar, “Studies of Performance Parameter of the Hybrid Rocket Using Hydrogen Peroxide-Oxygen as the Oxidizer", 13th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2022, May 26 – 28, 2022, TBRL, Chandigarh, INDIA.
  • Arpit Dubey and Rajiv Kumar, “Experimental and numerical investigations of a pintle injector for its flow and combustion characteristics", 13th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2022, May 26 – 28, 2022, TBRL, Chandigarh, INDIA.
  • Tathagat Sarangi and Rajiv Kumar, “Studies of the flame characteristics by varying the L* of a Hybrid Rocket Motor", 13th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2022, May 26 – 28, 2022, TBRL, Chandigarh, INDIA.
  • Sayantan Saha and Rajiv Kumar, “Experimental Studies of Continuously Rotating Detonation Combustor for Liquid Rocket Application", 13th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2022, May 26 – 28, 2022, TBRL, Chandigarh, INDIA.
  • Umang Jain and Rajiv Kumar, “Experimental Study of an Annular Aerospike Nozzle with Hybrid Rocket Motor Using a Liquefying Fuel”, AIAA 2022-3861, Session: Inlet/Exhaust System Integration Design, Performance, and/or Operability II. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-3861.
  •  
  • Ritesh Dubey and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Additives on the Extinction of Solid Rocket Propellants", 27th National and 5th International ISHMT-ASTFE Heat and Mass Transfer Conference (IHMTC-2023), 14th to the 17th of December 2023, IIT Patna.
  • Gyandeep and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of change in port shape on the performance of a hybrid rocket motor", 27th National and 5th International ISHMT-ASTFE Heat and Mass Transfer Conference (IHMTC-2023), 14th to the 17th of December 2023, IIT Patna.
  • Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Experimental Studies on Pintle Injector in Hybrid Rocket Engine", 27th National and 5th International ISHMT-ASTFE Heat and Mass Transfer Conference (IHMTC-2023), 14th to the 17th of December 2023, IIT Patna.
  • Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Performance Estimation of Hybrid Rocket by Varying the Flow Rate at Multi-Location Swirl Injector ", 14th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2024, 1-3 February 2024, VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, INDIA.
  • Mehdi Abbas and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Using AP In the PVC and HTPB Based Hybrid Fuel", 14th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2024, 1-3 February 2024, VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, INDIA.
  • Nitesh Kumar, Neerja Shukla, Shelly Biswas, Rajiv Kumar, “Development of Hydrogen Peroxide Based Micro Thruster Utilizing Biomass Catalyst Bed", 14th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2024, 1-3 February 2024, VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, INDIA.
  • Satish Subudhi, Mehdi Abbas and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Metal Additives on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor", 14th International High Energy Materials Conference & Exhibits, HEMCE-2024, 1-3 February 2024, VSSC, Thiruvananthapuram, INDIA.
  • Mehdi Abbas, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Performance studies of PVC and HTPB based Hybrid Rocket Fuels using Ammonium Perchlorate", International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering and Sciences (RTES-2024) , March 29-30, 2024, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, INDIA.
  • Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Rocket Fuel on Integrating Organic Additive", International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering and Sciences (RTES-2024), March 29-30, 2024, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, INDIA.
  • Satish Subudhi and Rajiv Kumar, “Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Rocket Fuel on Integrating Organic Additive", International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering and Sciences (RTES-2024), March 29-30, 2024, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, INDIA.

National Conference:

  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Performance Evaluation of Mg-Iron Based Wax Fuels for Hybrid Rocket Applications” 32nd National Convention of Aerospace Engineers & National Seminar on Advances in Aerospace Sciences and Technologies, October 27-28, 2018.
  • Nitesh Kumar, Bala Vignesh D and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Adding Ammonium Perchlorate on The Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor” 32nd National Convention of Aerospace Engineers & National Seminar on Advances in Aerospace Sciences and Technologies, October 27-28, 2018.
  • Arvind S and Rajiv Kumar, "Numerical Investigation on the Effect of Velocity Gradient on Shear Layer in Scramjets", 32nd National Convention of Aerospace Engineers & National Seminar on Advances in Aerospace Sciences and Technologies, October 27-28, 2018.
  • Nitesh Kumar, Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Activated Charcoal on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor” National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, IIT Kharagpur, December 17-19, 2018.
  • Saideep Singh Rajput, Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Studies on the Effect of Protrusion in Liquefying and Non-Liquefying Hybrid Rocket Fuels” National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, IIT Kharagpur, December 17-19, 2018.
  • Rajiv Kumar and K. Tamizarasan, “Use of N2O-O2 as the Oxidizer for the Hybrid Rocket Application” 3rd National Aerospace Propulsion Conference (NAPC 2020), BMS College and GTRE, Banglore, 17th- 19th December, 2020.
  • Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Protrusion Configuration on Combustion Stability of Hybrid Rocket Motor” 3rd National Aerospace Propulsion Conference (NAPC 2020), BMS College and GTRE, Banglore, 17th- 19th December, 2020.
  • Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Effect of Varying the Swirl Injection Location on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor” Paper No. NAPC2022-71, 4th National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, organized by Aerospace Department, IIT Bombay, 19-20 December, 2022.
  • Deepali Joshi, Shelly Biswas and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Biomass Based Catalyst on Ignition of HAN Monopropellant” NAPC2022-80, 4th National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, organized by Aerospace Department, IIT Bombay, 19-20 December, 2022.
  • Ritesh Dubey, Dr. Rajiv Kumar and Lakshmi Pasupathi, “Synthesis Of Ammonium Dinitramide Using A Commercially Available Nitric Acid For Solid Rocket Application” NAPC2022-75, 4th National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, organized by Aerospace Department, IIT Bombay, 19-20 December, 2022.
  • Sankalp Jain and Rajiv Kumar, “Effects of Gallant Concentration on Ethanol Gel Propellant Characteristics”, NAPC2022-78, 4th National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, organized by Aerospace Department, IIT Bombay, 19-20 December, 2022.
  • Gyandeep and Rajiv Kumar, “Performance Estimation by Varying the Grain Port Alignment Position in A Hybrid Rocket Motor”, NAPC2022-79, 4th National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, organized by Aerospace Department, IIT Bombay, 19-20 December, 2022.
  • Tathagat Sarangi and Rajiv Kumar, “Emission and Performance Studies of a Hybrid Rocket by Varying The L*”, NAPC2022-72, 4th National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, organized by Aerospace Department, IIT Bombay, 19-20 December, 2022.
  • Saikat Sarma, Srinibas Karmakar, Rajiv Kumar, Shelly Biswas, and Pratim Kumar, Hygroscopicity reduction of Ammonium Nitrate/ Potassium dinitramide (AN/KDN) oxidizer samples using PMMA as a coating agent, 37th  National Convention of Aerospace Engineers and national Seminar on Advances in Aerospace Engineering, BIT Mesra & The Institution of Engineers (India), Ranchi, 18th January-19th January 2025.
  • Aayushmaan Ganjoo, Sankalp Jain, Nitesh Kumar, Shelly Biswas and Rajiv Kumar, Computational Fluid Dynamics Studies on Hydrogen Peroxide based Micro-Thruster, 37th National Convention of Aerospace Engineers and national Seminar on Advances in Aerospace Engineering, BIT Mesra & The Institution of Engineers (India), Ranchi, 18th January-19th January 2025.
  • Rishabh Dhadiwal, Prabhat Dattakumar Phondekar, Sirisha Akella, Kommajosyula Nikhil, Rajiv Kumar, and Shelly Biswas, Synergistic Effects of Anti-Oxidant on GAP-based Composite Solid Propellants, 37th National Convention of Aerospace Engineers and national Seminar on Advances in Aerospace Engineering, BIT Mesra & The Institution of Engineers (India), Ranchi, 18th January-19th January 2025.
  • Rishabh Dhadiwal, Shivam Karki, Rajiv Kumar, and Shelly Biswas, Performance study of GAP as plasticizer with HTPB fuel for Hybrid Rocket Engine, National Aerospace Propulsion Conference (NAPC-2025), IIT Madras, Chennai, 20th January -22nd January 2025.
  • Rishabh Dhadiwal, Shivam Karki, Rajiv Kumar, and Shelly Biswas, Experimental Studies of Methane-Oxygen based Propulsion System with Varying O/F Ratio, National Aerospace Propulsion Conference (NAPC-2025) IIT Madras, Chennai, 20th January -22nd January 2025.
  • Mehdi Abbas, Rajiv Kumar, and Shelly Biswas, Performance Studies of Hybrid Rocket Using Nitrous Oxide as an Oxidizer with Varying Injectors, National Aerospace Propulsion Conference (NAPC-2025), IIT Madras, Chennai, 20th January -22nd January 2025.
  • Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar, and Shelly Biswas, Effect of Varying the Pintle Head Distance on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor, National Aerospace Propulsion Conference (NAPC-2025), IIT Madras, Chennai, 20th January -22nd January 2025.
Member of Professional Bodies

Member of The Institution of Engineers (India), Aerospace Division, Jharkhand State Centre

Member of Aeronautical Society of India, New Delhi 

AIAA student member in 2011

 
Current Sponsored Projects
  • 1. Rajiv Kumar (PI), “Comparison of performance parameter of a hybrid fuel using gaseous oxygen and liquid nitrous oxide” Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, Ranchi, funded-? 80000 (2016-2017).
  • 2. Rajiv Kumar (PI), “Effect of protrusion on regression rate and combustion instability at varying L/D of hybrid rocket motor”, Early Career Research Award, SERB DST, ECR/2015/000144, Budget-31.196 Lakhs, (September 2016- September 2019).
  • 3. Rajiv Kumar (Co-PI) and Shelly Biswas (PI), “Development of catalyst system for stable combustion of HAN green propellants”, AR&DB, DRDO, Budget-30.207 Lakhs (June 2021- June 2024)
  • 4. Rajiv Kumar (PI) and Shelly Biswas (Co-PI), “Use of multi-location swirl injection as a performance enhancer for the hybrid rocket system”, Core Research Grant, SERB, DST, Budget-41.92 Lakhs (December 2021-December 2024).
  • 5. Rajiv Kumar (Co-PI) and Shelly Biswas (PI), “Catalyst Development for Hydrogen Peroxide Monopropellant Thrusters”, SERB-POWER, DST, Budget-29.43 Lakhs, SPG/2021/002817, (June 2022-June 2025).
  • 6. Rajiv Kumar (PI) and Shelly Biswas (Co-PI), “Development of Tribrid Propulsion System and Evaluate its Performance Parameters”, CSIR, EMR-II, Budget-28.35 Lakhs, 22/0870/23/EMR-II, (September 2023-December 2026).
  • 7. Rajiv Kumar (PI) and Shelly Biswas (Co-PI), “Performance Estimation of a hybrid rocket using nitrous oxide as the Oxidizers”, AR&DB, DRDO, Budget-39.83 Lakhs, ARDB/PP/3978/2092, (December 2023-December 2026).
Text and Reference Books
    1. Nitesh Kumar, Mengu Dinesh, and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Activated Charcoal on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor” in Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering of Proceedings of the National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, Editors: Chetan S. Mistry, S. Kishore Kumar, B. N. Raghunandan, Gullapalli Sivaramakrishna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-5039-3.
    2. Mengu Dinesh and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Protrusion Configuration on Combustion Stability of Hybrid Rocket Motor” in Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering of Proceedings of the National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, Editors: Gullapalli Sivaramakrishna et al. Chapter-18, ISBN: 978-981-19-2377-7
    3.  Rajiv Kumar and K.Thamizarasan, “Use of N2O–O2 as the Oxidizer for the Hybrid Rocket Application” in Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering of Proceedings of the National Aerospace Propulsion Conference, Editors: Gullapalli Sivaramakrishna et al. Chapter-17, ISBN: 978-981-19-2377-7
    4. Rajiv Kumar and Mohan Varma, “Recent Advances in Solid and Hybrid Rocket Propulsion” Published December 2022 • Copyright © IOP Publishing Ltd 2022, Pages 15-1 to 15-51.
    5. Rajiv Kumar and Mohan Varma, “Current Trends in Liquid and Gel Rocket Propulsion” Published December 2022 • Copyright © IOP Publishing Ltd 2022, Pages 16-1 to 16-47.
    6. Ritesh Dubey and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Metal Addition on The Ignition Characteristics of a Pyrotechnic Igniter” in Recent Advances in Aerospace Engineering, Editors: Sanjay Singh, Perumalla Janaki Ramulu, Sachin Singh Gautam, Chapter-25, ISBN: 978-981-97-1305-9, DOI : 10.1007/978-981-97-1306-6.
    7. Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Effect of different injectors on performance of hybrid rocket motor by varying the L/D ratio” Recent Advances in Aerospace Engineering, Editors: Sanjay Singh, Perumalla Janaki Ramulu, Sachin Singh Gautam, Chapter-23, ISBN: 978-981-97-1305-9, DOI : 10.1007/978-981-97-1306-6.
    8. Sankalp Jain and Rajiv Kumar, “Aging and Atomization Characteristics of Aluminum Loaded and Unloaded Ethanol Gel” in Recent Advances in Aerospace Engineering, Editors: Sanjay Singh, Perumalla Janaki Ramulu, Sachin Singh Gautam, Chapter-12 ISBN: 978-981-97-1305-9. DOI : 10.1007/978-981-97-1306-6.
    9. Gyandeep and Rajiv Kumar, “Effect of Change in Alignment of the Multiport Grain on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor” in Recent Advances in Aerospace Engineering, Editors: Sanjay Singh, Perumalla Janaki Ramulu, Sachin Singh Gautam, ISBN: 978-981-97-1305-9. DOI : 10.1007/978-981-97-1306-6.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
  • 1. Rajiv Kumar and PA Ramakrishna, “Method for Improving the Mechanical Properties of Paraffin Wax” Patent No.: 343739, Date of Grant: 10/08/2020
  • 2. Rajiv Kumar and PA Ramakrishna, “Hybrid Rocket Engine Having High Regression Rate” Patent No.: 343577, Date of Grant: 07/08/2020
  • 3. Ritesh Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “An igniter formulation for solid rocket motors and method of preparation” Application No.: 202431002973, Published.
  • 4. Gyandeep and Rajiv Kumar, “Enhancement of Regression Rate due to change in Port alignment and Configuration Techniques”, Application No.: 202431030827, Published
  • 5. Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “A Hybrid Rocket Engine, and Method of Improving Performance Thereof”, Application No.: 202431103560, Published.
  • 6. Arpit Dubey, Rajiv Kumar and Shelly Biswas, “Utilization of Additive Derived from Organic Waste such as Shorea Robusta (Sal) Leaf as a Hybrid Rocket Fuel”, Submitted.
Fellow

PhD/JRF/IRS ongoing

  1.  Pratim Kumar, “Thermal Decomposition and Burn Rate Studies of Catalyzed AN/KDN Based Eco-Friendly Composite Solid Propellants”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi in May 2017. (Viva Defended: 4th May, 2018).
  2. Mengu Dinesh, “Studies on Regression Rate and Combustion Instabilities of Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi in January 2021
  3. Arpit Dubey, “Effect of Swirl and Pintle Injection System on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor” On-going from 2022. (Co Guide-Dr. Shelly Biswas)
  4.  Nitesh Kumar, “Studies of H2O2 Based Monopropellant and Hybrid Rocket for its Performance Estimation” On-going from 2023. (As a Co-Guide, Guide- Dr. Shelly Biswas)
  5. Mehdi Abbas, “Effect of Solid oxidizers in a Hybrid Rocket Motor” On-going from 2023. (Co Guide-Dr. Shelly Biswas)
  6. Sudhir Kumar Singh, “Development of Tribrid Propulsion System and Evaluate its Performance Parameters”, Ongoing from July 2024. (Co Guide-Dr. Shelly Biswas)
  7. Sankalp Jain, “Gel Propellant for Rocket Applications” Ongoing from January 2025 (Co-Guide-Dr. Shelly Biswas)
  8. Nagendra Maurya, “Effect of Metal Embedded Wire Fuel in the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket” Ongoing from January 2025
  9. Jhumki Nandi, “Effect of Grain configuration on the performance of a Hybrid Rocket” Ongoing from January 2025

ME/MTech Project Guidance

  1. Mengu Dinesh, “Studies on Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Wax-Based Fuels for Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi in June 2016.
  2. Talluri Vamsi Krishna, “Effect of Multi-Protrusion on Regression Rate in a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi in June 2016.
  3. Saideep Singh Rajput, “Studies on the Effect of Protrusion in Liquefying and Non Liquefying Hybrid Rocket Fuels”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi in June 2017.
  4. Aravind S, “Numerical Investigation of Hydrogen Mixing and Combustion in a Model Supersonic Combustion Ramjet”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 24th May, 2018.
  5. Singeetham Praney Kumar, “Effect of Liquid Fuel Injection on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 24th May, 2018.
  6. Nitesh Kumar, “Effect of Additives on the Regression Rate and Mechanical Properties for the PVC Based Hybrid Fuel”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 24th May, 2018.
  7. Bala Vignesh, “Effect of Multi-Location Swirl Injection Method on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor” submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 17th May, 2019.
  8. V. Vani Pooja, “Studies of Liquid Jet Atomization Through Non- Circular Orifices” submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 17th May, 2019.
  9. K. Thamizarasan, “Effect of Nytrox Oxidizer on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 17th May, 2019.
  10. Sumit Kumar Gupta, “Analysis of Liquid Jet A1- Gaseous Oxygen Based Movable Pintle Injector”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 20th June, 2020.
  11. P Lakshmi, “Experimental studies on Solid Propellant Based Microthruster”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 19th May, 2022.
  12. Sayantan Saha, “Experimental Studies of Continuously Rotating Detonation Combustor for Liquid Rocket Application”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 19th May, 2022.
  13. Tathagat Sarangi, “Experiment Studies of the Flame Characteristics by Varying the L* of a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 19th May, 2022.
  14. Alok Kumar, “Studies of Performance Parameter of the Hybrid Rocket Using Hydrogen Peroxide as the Oxidizer”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 19th May, 2022.
  15. Umang Jain, “Experimental Studies on Annular Aerospike Nozzle with hybrid Rocket Motor Using Liquefying Fuel”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 19th May, 2022.
  16. Arpit Dubey, “Experimental and numerical investigations of a pintle injector for its flow and combustion characteristics”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 19th May, 2022.
  17. Gyandeep, “Effect of change in Grain Configuration on the Performance of Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 11th May, 2023.
  18. Ritesh Dubey, “Experimental studies on Extinction and Ignition of Solid Propellants”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 11th May, 2023.
  19. Sankalp Jain, “Rheological and Atomization studies of metalized and non-metalized ethanol gel”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 11th May, 2023.
  20. Vineeth Kumar Rathi, “Studies of Performance Parameters with High-Test Peroxide for Hybrid Rocket Applications”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 11th May, 2023.
  21. Satish Subudhi, “Effect of Metal Additives on the Performance of a Hybrid Rocket Motor”, submitted to the Department of Space Engineering and Rocketry, BIT Mesra, Ranchi on 10th May, 2024.

B.Tech Project Guidance

  1. Piyarul haque, Sonali Singh, Ujjual Grover and Hajimiyan, “MBDA Project on-Ramjet-Energy Recovery Using a Closed Loop”, submitted to the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at Vel Tech Dr. RR & Dr. SR Technical University Avadi, Chennai in April-2015.
  2. Priyadharshini R., “Preliminary Re-Sizing of PSLV First Stage Using Advanced Solid Propellant System”, submitted to the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at Vel Tech Dr. RR & Dr. SR Technical University Avadi, Chennai in April-2015.
Member, Editorial Board

Editorial Board Member of International Journal of Advanced Research in Aeronautics and Space Science