Particle Simulation in Solid Propellant Rocket Exhaust Plumes

This Phase I proposal involves initiating the path to properly simulating non-equilibrium multiphase flowfields utilizing advanced numerical techniques. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology for predicting steady and transient, chemically reacting, two - and three-dimensional, multiphase flowfields has advanced rapidly in recent years. However, the modeling of particulates in these advanced codes is deficient. Current model for the description of particle drag/heat transfer between the gas and dispersed phase, as well as particle/surface boundary conditions, particle-particle interactions, particel-turbulance interactions, and volumetric effects are inadequate for the accurate simulation of "real" flowfields. A systematic approach will be developed where these models will be upgraded and incorporated into an existing multi-phase CFD code with the goal of furthering the state of the art for the analysis of multiphase problems.