Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Technique For Modeling Of The Environment In The Vicinity Of The Space Shuttle Orbiter

Leonard T. Melfi Jr.; J. E. Hueser; F. J. Brock

doi:10.1117/12.932010

19 February 1982 Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Technique For Modeling Of The Environment In The Vicinity Of The Space Shuttle Orbiter

Leonard T. Melfi Jr., J. E. Hueser, F. J. Brock

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 0287, Shuttle Optical Environment; (1982) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.932010
Event: 1981 Technical Symposium East, 1981, Washington, D.C., United States

Abstract

A program for analyzing the flowfield parameters in the neighborhood of the Space Shuttle Orbiter (herein referred to as Shuttle) has been developed. The program uses the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method, which is a completely probabilistic Monte Carlo technique capable of analyzing 3-dimensional steady or unsteady flow with prescribed internal and external boundary conditions. The freestream flux densities incident on the external flow-field boundaries are calculated from the drifting Maxwellian gas properties of the freestream. The flux entering the flowfield from the internal boundary is calculated from the outgassing flux density distribution over the Shuttle external surface and the prescribed discrete source fluxes. This technique produces a numerical flowfield solution which is the probabilistic equivalent of a complete solution of the time-dependent, 3-dimensional Boltzmann equation. Flowfield results are presented for the following configurations: (1) Shuttle angles of attack of 0° and 90°, (2) freestream density from 10⁹ to 10¹¹ cm^-3, (3) Shuttle out-gassing flux density from 10¹³ to 10¹⁶ cm^-2 s^-1, and (4) operation of the aft downfiring vernier Reaction Control System (RCS) engine. Results are presented for column density distribution of outgassed and engine species and for the flux density of outgassed and engine species incident on the Shuttle bay and the windshield.

Citation Download Citation

Leonard T. Melfi Jr., J. E. Hueser, and F. J. Brock "Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Technique For Modeling Of The Environment In The Vicinity Of The Space Shuttle Orbiter", Proc. SPIE 0287, Shuttle Optical Environment, (19 February 1982); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.932010

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