Continuous Detonation Rocket and Air Breathing Engines

This proposal describes an approach to evaluate the continuous detonation phenomenon using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for analyzing the critical factors needed to create a model of the detonation physics in a simulated engine. The work perfomed to define the operating parameters will be conducted using a program called MaxS as the primary tool. This program has been shown to provide the necessary computational capability for time rate calculations with extensive nodes and grid display. An attempt will be made to use the program for finite rate chemistry and it is anticipated that a successful model summary will be possible to obtain during the Phase I program. Comparisons and evaluations of options offered by the results of the work accomplished will be made. Concepts will be reviewed for the design of a working subscale model that could be built and tested during a Phase II program. Subsequent to developing a model method a recommendation will be made for a test article design based on the theoretical results.