Software Modules for Physics-Based Multi-Phase Modeling of Enhanced Blasts

There is considerable Air Force interest in enhancing blast effects through the use of highly compacted particles packed close to or embedded in a high explosive (HE) charge. In the field of advanced energetics, novel explosive formulations are increasingly relying on advanced reactive materials to enhance HE performance and address mission-specific lethality requirements. In this SBIR program, Combustion Research and Flow Technology, Inc. (CRAFT Tech) is proposing the development of an array of high-fidelity software modules for modeling dense to dilute multiphase flows subjected to strong shocks in a highly compressible flow environment. These software modules will addres: 1) dispersed multiphase models for highly compressible flows to accurately and robustly predict particulate behavior under highly compacted conditions (close to unity solid volume fraction) in a post-detonated environment; 2) Eulerian dispersed phase models that allow the presence of multiple condensed phase particulates of different materials; and, 3) polydispersed multiphase models to accurately represent particle size distribution in a computationally scalable manner. These software modules are intended to be general and interface with different CFD/hydro code solvers.