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Testing of chemical rocket propulsion systems involves the potential for large energy explosions. The ability to predict these blast environments is critical to the safety of the test/launch facility. This project will determine a valid engineering-level approach for predicting cryo-vapor cloud detonations (VCD), which are the true source of the blast wave events. Specifically, the robustness and accuracy of reduced finite-rate chemistry mechanisms will be investigated and compared to more computationally intensive elaborate mechanisms. The validity of these mechanisms in predicting the VCD and its subsequent propagation through complex structures will be studied using the Loci/BLAST and Loci/CHEM Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) tools.
","benefits":"This technology will enable safer rocket propulsion testing for NASA funded missions such as the Space Launch Systems (SL) and COTS programs by providing an improved predictive capability for catastrophic events. This technology will also benefit all future rocket propulsion testing and/or launch systems. This technology may be used by the commercial space industry for ensuring safe unmanned and manned space flight missions. This technology may benefit DOD propulsion testing and/or launch systems. It will also benefit other agencies such as Homeland Security.
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","benefits":"This technology will enable safer rocket propulsion testing for NASA funded missions such as the Space Launch Systems (SL) and COTS programs by providing an improved predictive capability for catastrophic events. This technology will also benefit all future rocket propulsion testing and/or launch systems. This technology may be used by the commercial space industry for ensuring safe unmanned and manned space flight missions. This technology may benefit DOD propulsion testing and/or launch systems. It will also benefit other agencies such as Homeland Security.
","releaseStatus":"Released","status":"Completed","destinationType":["Earth","Low_Earth_Orbit"],"trlBegin":5,"trlCurrent":6,"trlEnd":6,"favorited":false,"detailedFunding":false,"programContacts":[],"endDateString":"Oct 2015","startDateString":"Nov 2014"},"technologyOutcomeDate":"2015-10-01","infusion":"Other","technologyOutcomePath":"Infused_To","organizationId":2574,"organization":{"organizationId":2574,"organizationName":"Space Launch System","acronym":"SLS","organizationType":"NASA_Program","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"canUserEdit":false,"locationEdit":false,"organizationRolePretty":"","organizationTypePretty":"NASA Program"},"details":"Since that project ended, the resulting models have been employed within the SLS program. Within the past year the models were used for SLS B-2 Core Stage Testing with analysis to support the HUCTA (Hydrogen Unconfined Combustion Test Apparatus) explosion testing at B-2 to measure the overpressure attenuation. The actual data from the HUCTA testing validated the models. In April 2016 a NASA/TP was published with the modelling analyses from the project, NASA/ TP-2016-219220 Development of Detonation Modeling Capabilities for Rocket Test Facilities: Hydrogen-Oxygen-Nitrogen Mixtures. It has drawn attention by others such as Bangham Engineering and the NESC to use the modeling capability for predicting explosion environments.
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