To analyze a rotating detonation cycle (RDC) with burned gas backflow, simultaneous self-luminous visualization, pressure, and thrust measurements with gaseous ethylene and oxygen were performed. Three different geometric blockage ratios (bottom-wall-surface area to cross-sectional area of combustor) were set at 89.2, 70.2, and 51.7%. The fuel and oxidizer mass flow rates and equivalence ratio were constant at 20.6g/s, 41.2g/s, and 1.7, respectively. During the combustion test, the single detonation wave rotated at 1557, 1459, and 1353 m/s, and the propagation speed increased proportionally for the geometric blockage ratio. The estimated fuel-oxidizer-based specific impulse was in the range of 148 +/- 8s, and the impact of the geometric blockage ratio and propagation speeds on this specific impulse was not confirmed. The hydrodynamic blockage ratio of the oxidizer injector due to the detonation wave was estimated using the oxidizer plenum pressure. It was found that the hydrodynamic blockage ratio linearly decreased with an increase in the geometric blockage ratio. This important trend suggests that the RDC operation is limited in the region of the lower geometric blockage ratio. It is also predicted that a reduction in the hydrodynamic blockage ratio while maintaining the geometric blockage ratio is required for stable RDC operation and achievement of pressure gain combustion. Moreover, the whole RDC structure including the burned gas back flow successfully visualized at the frame rate of 0.5 and 1 mu s. The validity of estimated hydrodynamic blockage ratio was demonstrated by comparison with the visualization experiment. It was concluded that the hydrodynamic blockage ratio was primarily determined mainly by the time scale of the burned gas backflow. (C) 2020 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.