Presented at the COMSOL Users Conference 2006 Eindhoven

Comsol MultiPhysics in Rocket Technology

A wide range of applications

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Defense, Security and Safety

How is Comsol MP used in Rocket Technology

Disciplines:
Mechanical analyses Thermal analyses Chemical processes CFD

Examples:
Spinning Ramjet Projectile Micro-thruster Catalytic Decomposition (Sc)ramjet vehicle performance

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Example 1: Spinning Ramjet Projectile

Gun launched Auto-igniting Sustains Mach 4

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Spinning test set-up

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Intake and fin CFD

Aerodynamic forces on fins

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Structural loading
Periodic boundary conditions Aerodynamic surface forces Centrifugal volume forces

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Example 2: Micro-thruster
Thrust < 1 N Monopropellant: H2O2 V nano-satellites, ACS micro-satellites Testbed for hybrid manufacturing. (micro-machining and MEMS)

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Thermal analysis, step one: detailed 2D

Heat load from catalyst bed from inside Radiation and possible convective cooling on outside, corrected for surface ratio

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Thermal analysis, step two: simplified 2D

Catalyst bed ring and support structure removed Equivalent heat load at point c applied to boundary b1

Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Thermal analysis, step three: 3D

Equivalent heat load on simplified 2D model reproduces detailed 2D results apply this heat load in a simplified 3D model

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Thermal losses estimation

170 160 150 Specific Impulse (s) 140 130 120 110 100 90 nominal mass flow maximum mass flow theoretical maximum preliminary design nominal 0 10 20 30 40 50 time (s) 60 70 80 90 100

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Example 3: Catalytic Decomposition

Start-up performance of catalytic decomposition of a mono-propellant. Application modes used:
Brinkman porous flow Heat conduction Convection and Conduction Convection and Diffusion (2 species)

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Example 3: Catalytic Decomposition

Inflow of propellant from the top. As soon as decomposition starts, the velocity increases

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Example 3: Catalytic Decomposition

Velocity

Decomposition

Fluid Temperature

Structural Temperature

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Example 4: (Sc)ramjet vehicle performance

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Ramjet intake operation

Transition effects

Slightly sub-critical

Slightly super-critical

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Scramjet vehicle with Singe Expansion Ramp Nozzle

Temperature

Pressure

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

Ramjet start-up

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology

... and many more to come ...

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Comsol MP in Rocket Technology