Investigation of a Reference Axi-Symmetric Solid-Fuel Ramjet (SFRJ): from Mixed-Compression Inlet Shock Dynamics to Multiphase Turbulent Combustion of the Solid-Fuel Grain

Leveraging the outcome of a successful Phase 1 effort, which was limited to external aerodynamics, HySonic has developed a comprehensive Phase II plan centered around a newly developed reference solid-fuel ramjet (SFRJ) model. The additional focus on the internal flow path dynamics and subsonic/supersonic turbulent combustion of the solid fuel grain adds an important dimension to this ARO topic. Modeling efforts will therefore cover both internal and external aerodynamics focusing on the effects of freestream perturbations, shock-wave boundary layer interactions (SWBLI), and the overall intake and shock-train dominated compression of air needed for combustion. Two novel experimental campaigns are proposed: 1) characterization of mixed-compression inlet aerodynamics at high-enthalpies, to be conducted at the Stevens Institute of Technology by Prof. Parziale's group, offering near-wall turbulent boundary layer measurements via advanced molecular tagging techniques; and 2) slab-burner testing at Purdue leveraging Prof. Slabaugh's state-of-the-art optical diagnostics investigating turbulent solid-fuel grain combustion, limited to the subsonic regime. Computational investigations focused on turbulent multi-phase combustion will be used to extrapolate the Purdue experimental data to the supersonic regime, to gain insight into the vehicle performance in scram mode.