Navier-Stokes analysis of solid propellant rocket motor internal flows

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Journal of Propulsion and Power; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2514/3.23203· OSTI ID:7153760

Sabnis, J S; Gibeling, H J; Mcdonald, H ^[1]

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1. Scientific Research Associates, Inc., Glastonbury, CT (USA)

A multidimensional implicit Navier-Stokes analysis that uses numerical solution of the ensemble-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in a nonorthogonal, body-fitted, cylindrical coordinate system has been applied to the simulation of the steady mean flow in solid propellant rocket motor chambers. The calculation procedure incorporates a two-equation (k-epsilon) turbulence model and utilizes a consistently split, linearized block-implicit algorithm for numerical solution of the governing equations. The code was validated by comparing computed results with the experimental data obtained in cylindrical-port cold-flow tests. The agreement between the computed and experimentally measured mean axial velocities is excellent. The axial location of transition to turbulent flow predicted by the two-equation (k-epsilon) turbulence model used in the computations also agrees well with the experimental data. Computations performed to simulate the axisymmetric flowfield in the vicinity of the aft field joint in the Space Shuttle solid rocket motor using 14,725 grid points show the presence of a region of reversed axial flow near the downstream edge of the slot. 22 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7153760
• Journal Information: Journal of Propulsion and Power; (USA), Vol. 5; ISSN 0748-4658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
42 ENGINEERING
COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
STEADY FLOW
ROCKET ENGINES
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COORDINATES
FLUID MECHANICS
NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS
PROPELLANTS
TURBULENT FLOW
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ENGINES
EQUATIONS
FLUID FLOW
MECHANICS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SIMULATION
330000* - Advanced Propulsion Systems
420400 - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow