Computationally Efficient Multiphase Flow Simulation Tool for Propulsion Test Technology Components

This project is geared towards a computationally efficient, robust computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool for simulating unsteady multiphase flows of critical importance to NASA in their ground and launch systems processing technologies. The proposed work seeks significant cost reduction for unsteady simulations via the PIMPLE algorithm in the Loci-STREAM CFD code. The basic PIMPLE algorithm for pressure-velocity coupling has been implemented in Loci-STREAM for incompressible laminar/turbulent flows and a speedup of a factor of three has been demonstrated. The proposed Phase I project will extend the PIMPLE-based methodology to handle compressible flows followed by coupling with the cavitation capability in Loci-STREAM. This will allow unsteady simulations of cavitating flows of interest to NASA with significantly reduced turnaround times. The long-term objective is to extend this unsteady methodology to other selected multiphase applications (such as turbulent combustion) along with enhancements to the overall algorithm in Loci-STREAM, including implementing a fully coupled flow solver, implementing more efficient matrix solvers, etc.