Investigation of different modeling approaches for computational fluid dynamics simulation of high-pressure rocket combustors

Abstract

The paper summarizes technical results and first highlights of the cooperation between DLR and Airbus Defence and Space (DS) within the work package “CFD Modeling of Combustion Chamber Processes” conducted in the frame of the Propulsion 2020 Project. Within the addressed work package, DLR Göttingen and Airbus DS Ottobrunn have identified several test cases where adequate test data are available and which can be used for proper validation of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools. In this paper, the first test case, the Penn State chamber (RCM1), is discussed. Presenting the simulation results from three different tools, it is shown that the test case can be computed properly with steady-state Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approaches. The achieved simulation results reproduce the measured wall heat flux as an important validation parameter very well but also reveal some inconsistencies in the test data which are addressed in this paper.