Principal Investigator Ahmed Ghoniem
Project Website http://web.mit.edu/rgd/www/ScientificComputing/scientificComputing.html
Accurate and efficient computational algorithms for the simulation of high Reynolds number turbulent reacting flows with fast chemical reactions are valuable for the study of turbulence-combustion interactions in engineering systems utilized in automotive, aerospace and utility industries, as well as in problems related to safety and environmental concerns.
As the first step, we develop a Lagrangian method for the accurate simulation of low-Mach number, variable-density, diffusion-controlled combustion. Our previous axisymmetric implementation was used to model fire plum rise and dispersion. Such a model plays an essential role to assess the environmental damage from large fires. Results include the rate of burning, fire dynamics, emissions and temperature field. Current efforts are concentrated on the creation of an equivalent 3D simulation tool for investigating diffusion-controlled combustion. A new method is currently being developed by using a distribution-based treatment of diffusion and a transport element scheme.