Optimized Simulations of High-Speed Turbulent Combustion
Abstract
Project Abstract -Approved for Public ReleaseOptimized Simulations of High-Speed Turbulent CombustionGraham CandlerAerospace Enginee,ring & MechanicsUniversity of MinnesotaHigh propulsion efficiency is essential to the development of practical long-range hypersonic, systems that can be launched from Navy platforms. However, current numerical simulation methods for high-speed turbulent combustion, cannot predict scramjet engine performance. The simulations are sensitive to the choice of numerical flux function, time integratio,n approach, chemical kinetics mechanism, turbulence model, and grid resolution. Furthermore, state-of-the-art scale-resolving unstea,dy simulations are too expensive for practical use. Because of these issues, it is not possible to use numerical simulations to expl,ore scramjet engine design space and the development of novel engine concepts rely on extensive wind-tunnel testing. The most promis,ing combustion simulation approach is the use of large-eddy simulations, inwhich the large-scale turbulent motion is resolved on the, computational grid and the effect of small-scale motion is modeled.It is the objective of the research project to develop an optimi,zed large-eddy simulation approach for high-speed turbulent combustion. We will study relevant experimental configurations and compa,re the use of different numerical flux functions, time integration approaches, grid resolutions, and subgrid-scale models. We also p,lan to investigate the used of methods that have the potential to greatly reduce the cost of using large chemical kinetics models fo,r hydrocarbon combustion. This work will identify the optimally balanced simulation strategy for a range of combustion applications,with the goal of obtaining the most accurate possible simulation for a given computational resource. We will build on a decade of ex,perience with turbulent combustion simulations and recent developments of numerical methods and turbulence modeling approaches for t,hese flows. All ofthe proposed research will exploit existing capabilities in the University of Minnesota US3D computational fluid d,ynamics code; improvements to methods and simulation approaches will be implemented in US3D and associated plugin codes.The project,will develop an integrated simulation approach for the prediction of high-speed propulsion system performance and optimization. The,University of Minnesota research group will collaborate with the ongoing MURI project at University of Michigan and with researchers, at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory to transition the simulation capabilities to practical application.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212140
Entities
People
- Graham Vardy Candler
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Regents of the University of Minnesota
- United States Navy