Simulation of laser propagation through jet plumes using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

We have investigated the possibilities of using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to characterize the impact of refractive index fluctuations in a jet engine plume on Directed InfraRed CounterMeasure (DIRCM) system performance. The jet plume was modelled using both Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) formulations of Navier-Stokes equations. The RANS calculations provided a time-averaged description of the refractive index and the turbulence strength. The more computationally intense LES model provided time resolved data on large scale turbulent eddies within the engine plume. The smaller structures are assumed to be isotropic and are modelled implicitly to reduce the computational demands to levels feasible for current computational hardware. The refractive index data from the CFD calculations was integrated along the optical propagation path to produce phase screens. For RANS data this approach provided time averaged aberrations, whereas for LES data the temporal variation of low spatial frequency aberrations were available for a short time sequence. Modal descriptions of the phase screens were investigated to allow study of temporal variation at longer time scales. Alternatively the structure parameter (Cn2) can be estimated and used to provide order of magnitude approximations for the optical effects. The generated phase screens were used to calculate laser beam system level quality parameters including beam wander, fidelity ratio and power-in-bucket. The paper focuses on method development, but examples of a jet plume simulation showing that the engine plume turbulence has a significant impact on DIRCM system functionality are presented.