Development of Advanced Detonation Modeling Methods for Hydrocarbon Propellants, Year 2

Continuation from FY17... Many modern liquid rocket propulsion systems are utilizing hydrocarbon propellants (e.g. methane, RP-1). Testing of these new rocket systems will inherently involve the potential for large energy explosions. Current engineering methods do not address the probability of a detonation occurring and they are extremely conservative by attempting to equate the propellant vapor cloud explosion to a high-density explosive. The current project is leveraging CIF FY15 work done by NASA-SSC in which a validated tool for modeling hydrogen detonation and blast wave propagations in test facilities by following on to validate engineering level approaches for modeling the potential and associated blast environments for explosions of these hydrocarbon propellants.

The ability to predict these blast environments is critical to the safety of the test/launch facilities and test articles in NASA as well as to other similar government test facilities and the development of such facilities and test articles within the growing industrial rocket engine development sector.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.