Numerical analysis of the turbulent flow and alumina particle trajectories in solid rocket motors

Abstract

A numerical analysis of the two-phase internal flow in a solid rocket motor has been carried out employing an Eulerian-Lagr angian approach. The full NavierStokes equations are solved numerically for the gas phase. The particulate phase is simulated through a Lagrangian deterministic model. Two computational multiblock grids, with different block arrangements in the aft-dome region have been employed. Also, different turbulence models (algebraic, standard low Reynolds k-e and modified k-e) have been adopted to investigate their influence on the flow patterns. Calculations have been performed on a realistic segmented solid rocket motor. Results show a rather strong effect of the grid on the accuracy of the flow solution. Two-equation turbulence models provide much better results than algebraic models; also, no appreciable difference is observed in the solutions obtained using different low Reynolds formulations adopted to account for wall injection for the motor geometry considered. Alumina droplet trajectories have been computed for different diameters; a noticeable difference exists only between particle paths calculated from laminar and turbulent flow fields.