Uncertainty-Analysis-Driven Reduced-Order Kinetic Models Targeting Combustion Dynamics

The design and development of a number of advanced Air Force propulsion systems is substantially limited by the current inability of computational design support tools to adequately and cost-effectively predict the complex flow physics and combustion dynamics that governs system performance and stability. The innovation proposed consists of a comprehensive experimental-modeling framework to (i) systematically evaluate chemical kinetic models, (ii) validate their predictions against experimental data and (iii) guide their enhancement in terms of both prediction accuracy and computational efficiency. Specifically, the joint team consisting of Combustion Research and Flow Technology, Inc., the University of Virginia and Georgia Tech will further mature and converge under a common framework a number of capabilities pertaining to the development of reduced-order kinetic models, inclusion of combustion dynamics characteristics, extension to extreme pressures and quantification of uncertainty bounds. Computationally-tractable kinetic models for RP-1/RP-2 fuels applicable for highly turbulent and unsteady liquid rocket engine simulations at the high pressure operating conditions of interest are addressed in this STTR program.