Numerical simulation of radiation in high altitude solid propellant rocket plumes

Models and computational schemes are presented to simulate the flow field and radiation in solid propellant rocket plumes at high altitude. Different models are developed to calculate plume radiation induced by both the gas and the dispersed phase of alumina particles. Simulations were made to reproduce a 110 km altitude rocket plume and comparisons with experimental data on the plume radiance are presented. Influence of different physical processes on the simulation of the plume flow field and radiation is discussed, such as alumina phase change, scattering and the coupling of radiation with the two-phase flow.