The detonation wave in a rotating detonation engine is highly adaptable to the incoming flow, making the wave easier to control. In this study, a numerical simulation method is used to analyze the working process and flow field structure of a rotating detonation model engine with dual cavity injection of an H 2 /air mixture by controlling the injection pressure ratio of the dual cavity and the number of detonation wave heads. It is found that the rotating detonation engine offers the possibility to control the thrust vector with two different modes. The first is a one-cycle alternate control mode with a small injection pressure ratio. Here two deflections occur in different directions occur across one detonation wave propagation cycle, but the overall deflection direction is in the low-pressure region. The second is a one-way control mode, with a large injection pressure ratio, and the deflection direction towards the low-pressure region. For the multi wave-mode, it belongs to one-way control mode because of constant deflection direction in the low-pressure area. From the perspective of thrust distribution along the circumference, the one-way control strategy satisfies the ability of a rotating detonation thrust vector control. • RDE theoretically owns the ability of the thrust vector control with two modes. • Analyze the specific impulse and thrust of the rotating detonation engine during the processes of the thrust vector control. • One-cycle alternate and one-way control modes have different processes, but the latter is more suitable for RDE applications. • Numerical simulation with dual cavity injection was adopted to analyze the TVC working process and flow field structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]