Modeling of aluminum particle ignition behavior in open atmosphere rocket propellant fires

The study of aluminum particle behavior in an open atmosphere propellant burn is of particular interest when considering accident scenarios for rockets carrying high-value payloads. One of the major difficulties in analyzing the thermal environment that a payload will see is the behavior of aluminum particles, which are a component in the propellant formulation. This research activity focuses on the development of models to rationalize observed aluminum behavior beginning with developing an understanding of particle–wall interaction and wall impingement process using STAR-CCM+, a commercial CFD code. Importance of implementation of aluminum evaporation models and radiation heat transfer are discussed.