SBIR-STTR Award

Flow Modeling and Simulation, LLC (FMS), proposes to develop a computational software tool, herein designated AUG3D, that is intended to provide physics-based, multi-level, validated computational simulations of turbine engine component flow fields, particularly those associated with thrust augmentors, i.e., afterburners. This tool will be ideally suited for closely integrating physical testing and design of gas turbine engines, especially for applications involving designs that employ augmentors. The software tool will be will be designed to support testing through test matrix optimization and direct test support, e.g., selection and placement of instrumentation, thereby improving test efficiency and reducing test cost. AUG3D will be comprised of comprehensive modules capable of accurately capturing spatial and temporal changes in physical parameters critical to augmentor design. A particular focus of the proposed tool is on flow fields resulting from engine augmentors that produce combustion instabilities.

Benefit:
Most aerospace technology development programs utilize computational simulation tools, and in particular CFD codes, in conjunction with major experimental/testing efforts. There is a very strong need for high fidelity computational analyses to (1) assist in pre-test planning, (2) design and improve ground test facilities and test techniques, (3) interpret experimental data, (4) provide insight to flow regions where experimental diagnostics are not located, (5) extrapolate results from ground tests to flight conditions, (6) help identify the source of problems, including failures of experiments, and (7) optimize testing to reduce cost and shorten test time. The results of using AUG3D in making such evaluations in the AEDC test work-flow will be carefully documented to help quantify where improvements occur and efficiencies are gained, and to provide guidelines for future users to make the best choices in code settings relative to how the new tool is being used in the test environment.