Thermochemical and Particulate Interfacing for Hybrid High-Altitude Plume and Control Jet Simulations

A hybrid modeling capability has been developed by coupling a CFD code to a DSMC code using a one-way coupled interface surface. Using a unique toolkit, named AEGIS, these surfaces can be generated for complex, arbitrary 3D shapes. The status of this technology development is described. Modifications that include non-equilibrium internal energy modeling in the CFD code and solid particulates for DSMC have extended these capabilities. Application to axisymmetric plumes at high altitude indicates proper coupling across the interface boundary. However, resolution of the low vibrational temperature found in expanding flows presents a computational challenge that must be addressed. Particulate modeling shows good agreement between CFD and DMC. For these high altitudes, the drag forces on the particulates are mostly negligible with thermal radiation being the dominant physics.