Numerical Prediction of Surface Heat Flux During Multiple Jets Firing for Missile Control

Abstract

Numerical simulations are carried out to obtain the flowfield and heat flux arising out of the flow interactions of different control thrusters viz. vernier, pitch, yaw, roll and divert thruster among themselves as well as with free stream at different altitudes of operation. Three critical points on a typical trajectory of a missile are chosen and combinations of the thrusters operating at those conditions are considered. Simulations have also been performed to simulate DT motor interaction with free stream at different altitude. The interaction of different motor flowfield with the free stream presents a very complex flowfield. Flow gradients are very high close to the nozzle exit because of high altitude operation of motors. 3-Dimensional RANS equations are solved along with k-e turbulence model on unstructured tetrahedral grid using commercial CFD software. The flow properties along with the surface heat flux distribution for four isothermal wall temperatures 350, 450, 550, 650 K are computed and provided for surface temperature prediction. It is observed that with increase in altitude, the high heat flux region reduces and heat transfer coefficient is independent of wall temperature.