Ablation and molten layer flow simulation for plate model of SiO2f/SiO2 composite material using particle method

Abstract

In this paper, the moving particle semi-implicit method (MPS) is extended from calculating free mobility to simulating the extremely viscous and temperature-dependent molten layer flow of SiO_2f/SiO₂ composite material under aerodynamic heating conditions, which includes strong heating and shear of incoming flow. A method for applying heat flux and airflow shear, based on the conceptual particle approach, has been established. Heat transfer, melting, solidification, and evaporation behaviors are considered, with temperature-dependent viscosity variations also accounted for. The ablative regression of the plate model is verified using experimental results of the SiO_2f/SiO₂ composite material, and results from convergence analysis demonstrate the accuracy of the space step size selection. Surface morphology analysis through three-dimensional computation indicates that the extended particle method also accurately describes the surface morphology of SiO_2f/SiO₂ composite material under aerodynamic heating conditions. Thus, the extended particle method accurately simulates both the ablation process and the surface morphology of the SiO_2f/SiO₂ composite material. The influences of acceleration and surface tension are discussed. Ablative recession, when subject to acceleration, is smaller than that observed in its absence. When exposed to surface tension, the liquid layer tends to form a spherical shape, and the particles behave as a cohesive unit, resulting in smaller ablative recession than in the absence of surface tension.