Shock Waves and Plume Prediction of a Rocket Thruster With an Attached Panel

Reynolds-Averaged Navier-stokes (RANS) numerical simulations are performed to predict the supersonic flow field induced by a H2-O2 rocket thruster with an attached panel, under a variety of operating conditions. The simulations have captured physical details of the flow field, such as the plume formation and expansion, formation of a system of shock waves and their effects on the temperature and pressure distributions on the walls. Comparison between the computed results for 2-D and adiabatic walls and the related experimental measurements for 3-D and cooled walls shows that the results of the simulations are consistent with those obtained from the related rig tests.