Dr. Taylor Rault specializes in the engineering analysis of combustion, thermal, and fluid processes, specifically regarding the origin, cause, and propagation of fires and explosions. Dr. Rault has investigated fires involving residential structures, internal combustion engine- and electric motor-powered vehicles, outdoor maintenance and recreational vehicles, as well as battery packs. These investigations included fire cause and origin determination, burn pattern interpretation, and evaluation of ignition mechanisms.
Dr. Rault has published scientific articles in the areas of rocket fuel, jet fuel, and biofuel combustion chemistry, as well as soot formation, fuel pyrolysis, chemical kinetics, and advanced optical diagnostic development. Applications of his research include developing more powerful, efficient, and low-pollution propulsion and energy systems, specifically through improved characterization of primary and secondary fuel decomposition pathways.
Dr. Rault has held a graduate research assistant (GRA) position in the Hanson Research Group at Stanford University, and GRA and research associate positions in the Combustion and Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). Dr. Rault has also held positions at Stantec Consulting Ltd. and JV Driver Group.
Areas of Expertise
Publications
- Neat ammonia, ammonia-hydrogen, and ammonia-methane blend oxidation-II: Kinetic modeling, Combustion and Flame, In Preparation, January 2026
- Neat ammonia, ammonia-hydrogen, and ammonia-methane blend oxidation-I: Multi-species measurements, Combustion and Flame, In Preparation, January 2026
- Simultaneous multi-species measurements during hydrazine pyrolysis behind reflected shock waves, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, In Preparation, January 2026
- Carbon black and hydrogen co-production from methane pyrolysis: measured and modeled insights from integrated gas-phase and particulate diagnostics in shock tubes, Carbon, Under Review, January 2026
- Sensitive, multi-species, variable-pathlength laser absorption measurements in shock-tube studies of ammonia pyrolysis and oxidation, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Under Review, January 2026
- Ammonia pyrolysis behind reflected shock waves: Multi-species measurements and modeling, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Under Review, January 2026
- Sensitive, multi-species, variable-pathlength laser absorption measurements in shock-tube studies of ammonia pyrolysis and oxidation, 41st International Symposium on Combustion, Kyoto, Japan, July 2026
- Direct laser absorption measurements of NH3-relevant pyrolysis reactions, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol. 130, pp. 1700–1712, January 2026
- Applications of hydrazine for the study of NH2 kinetics-II: self-reaction of NH2 radicals, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 288, pp. 114969, January 2026
- Applications of hydrazine for the study of NH2 kinetics-I: N2H4 pyrolysis reactions, Combustion and Flame, Vol. 288, pp. 114968, January 2026
See CV for additional publications.