SBIR-STTR Award

A Multiscale Modeling and Simulation Framework for Predicting After-Burning Effects from Non-Ideal Explosives
Award last edited on: 3/28/2019

Sponsored Program
STTR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Navy
Total Award Amount
$1,362,939
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
N10A-T002
Principal Investigator
David A Swensen

Company Information

Reaction Engineering International

189 East Fort Union Boulevard Suite 201
Midvale, UT 84107
   (801) 364-6925
   swensen@reaction-eng.com
   www.reaction-eng.com

Research Institution

University of Buffalo

Phase I

Contract Number: N68335-10-C-0418
Start Date: 7/30/2010    Completed: 7/13/2011
Phase I year
2010
Phase I Amount
$99,949
The primary objective of the proposed effort is to develop a validated computational tool to predict the afterburning of non-ideal munitions containing metal and hydrocarbon fuels. The activities outlined devise a well-coordinated collaboration among researchers from Reaction Engineering International (REI) and the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). The activities proposed will build on the previous collaboration between REI and UB in modeling and simulation of advanced computational frameworks for abnormal thermal and mechanical environments. The modeling strategy proposed includes several unique features that are important for understanding and predicting the ignition of compressible multiphase flows. These effects include both heterogeneous and homogeneous particle reactions, particle compressibility, and a turbulence modeling approach that naturally includes effects of group combustion. The modeling will be housed into a new supervisory simulation framework pioneered by REI for examining blast environments. A development plan is presented that will allow for the systematic development of this new tool starting from 2D single room (phase I) to multi-room (phase I extension) and finally to 3D configurations using a variety of explosives (phase II). It is anticipated that the final tool will be commercialized for both military and non-military customers to either design or better understand the blast loads from non-ideal explosives.

Keywords:
Turbulence, Turbulence, After-Burn Effect, Modeling And Simulation, Thermobarics, Reaction Modeling, Enhanced-Blast Explosive

Phase II

Contract Number: N68335-11-C-0488
Start Date: 9/7/2011    Completed: 3/7/2013
Phase II year
2011
(last award dollars: 2015)
Phase II Amount
$1,262,990

The objective of the proposed Phase II STTR effort is to develop a validated computational tool to predict the afterburning of non-ideal munitions containing metal and hydrocarbon fuels. The activities outlined devise a well-coordinated collaboration among researchers from Reaction Engineering International (REI) and the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). The activities proposed will build on the previous collaboration between REI and UB in modeling and simulation of advanced computational frameworks for abnormal thermal and mechanical environments. The modeling strategy proposed includes several unique features that are important for understanding and predicting the ignition of compressible multiphase flows. These effects include both heterogeneous and homogeneous particle reactions, particle compressibility, and a turbulence modeling approach that naturally includes effects of group combustion. The modeling will be housed into a new 3D supervisory simulation framework pioneered by REI for examining blast environments that includes support for complex geometries and a variety of explosives. It is anticipated that the final tool will be commercialized for both military and non-military customers to either design or better understand the blast loads from non-ideal explosives.

Keywords:
Thermobarics, Thermobarics, Turbulence, Computational Framework, Aluminum Particles, Reaction Modeli