Predicting the Flow Interactions of Modular Liquid Rocket Engine Thrust Chambers

ABSTRACT: ASTS, along with our Aerojet Rocketdyne commercialization partner, are pleased to present this proposed project to demonstrate feasibility of using specialized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools for predicting the behavior of flow interactions in a modular aerospike rocket engine. Our project will examine the flowfield between adjacent thrusters, which we will use to predict the associated performance losses. We will then examine how those perturbations grow or attenuate downstream and, in particular, how they affect base flow, arguably the most important--and most difficult to predict--component of thrust of a zero-length modular aerospike engine. Our commercialization plan is sound, complete, and already underway. Our team is currently negotiating a contract with the Missile Defense Agency wherein we will begin development of a modular aerospike for a missile defense application. The project proposed herein will enable us to more quickly develop and qualify the modular thruster modules, which will, in turn, allow us to proceed to flight far more quickly. BENEFIT: Aerospike engine performance predictions, flow interactions, and heat loads are notoriously difficult, particularly for a modular aerospike design. Our projet will begin to elucidate the complicated compressible fluid physics interactions that can have a dramatic effect on overall engine performance. Importantly, because of the investment already being made by MDA, the Air Force will more quickly, and less expensively, reap a return on its investment by enabling us to more quickly proceed through development and to flight.