Numerical Analysis of Combustor and Nozzle Flows

The prospects for the application of CFD techniques to design problems in rocket engine combustors and nozzles are reviewed. Basic aspects of computational techniques are outlined, the importance of careful code validation, especially in view the many subgrid scale model used is emphasized, and a series of representative results are given to demonstrate current capabilities. The representative problems include flows with chemical reactions, spray combustion, atomization and vaporization. In addition, combustor and nozzle flows involve all types of state relations as well as all Mach number and Reynolds number regimes. Although improved modeling and faster machines are needed to tackle all problems of interest, CFD methods are becoming an important tool in combustor/nozzle design practices.