Three-Dimensional Simulations of a Gas/Gas, Hydrogen/Oxygen Engine

Abstract : As part of an ongoing program to develop a computational methodology to obtain high-fidelity rocket engine flow solutions, three dimensional, time- accurate computations were performed on a single- element, shear-coaxial, gas/gas, H2/O2 rocket engine. The purpose of the present work is to determine what level of model fidelity is required to capture the essential physical behavior of the flow. The simulations discussed here are of the highest fidelity thus far reported and represent the leading edge of numerical modeling capability for this class of problems. Results are compared with previous two dimensional calculations, showing that the time- accurate simulations better represent the experimental data in most cases, and that the three-dimensional calculations do as well as or slightly better at predicting the data. Additionally, while no three-dimensional patterns (such as a helical structure) are present in the shear layer, the three-dimensional calculation does predict other differences from the two-dimensional calculation such as a shift in the position of the upstream recirculation zone. Continued learning and understanding are required to flirther push the envelope of high fidelity simulations while at the same time making them faster, more efficient, and more robust than they are today.