Practical Multi-Disciplinary Analysis Tools for Combustion Devices

The use of multidisciplinary analysis (MDA) techniques for combustion device environment prediction, including complex fluid mixing phenomena, is now becoming possible as numerical algorithms and high performance computing clusters become more powerful. Parallel solution methodologies and distributed memory architectures are currently available, yet the challenge of bringing highly sophisticated MDA research algorithms into a fast-paced NASA engineering environment still remains. In particular, continued improvements in current analysis tools and further validation of physical models are still needed to develop practical MDA capabilities. The product of our proposed Phase II effort will be an to compute turbulent, chemically reacting flows with coupled structural heating. Our unique approach, employing solution-based mesh refinement algorithms for generalized unstructured meshes, will provide NASA with the critical capability to solve fluid/structure interaction problems in a collaborative engineering environment. The developed software will be capable of generating both performance and multi-dimensional environments for rocket engine combustion devices. More specifically, it will support accurate and timely design analyses for all Exploration Vision propulsion systems combustion devices and will offer NASA a significantly improved, commercially viable analysis tool.