Ultraviolet, visible and infrared spectra modeling for solid and liquid-fuel rocket exhausts

The paper discusses most recent author's approach to modeling of radiation of solid and liquid propellant motor plumes. The plume gasdynamic and radiation models are overviewed. Particular accent is made on three important processes: phase transitions in alumina particles, non-equilibrium population of the OH(A) level and soot oxidation in the plume. Modeling simulation of the radiation of typical solid motor plumes demonstrated importance of these processes for the computation. Accounting for phase transitions of alumina particles and soot oxidation in the plume may change computational results in several times. Whereas, non-equilibrium kinetics of the OH(A) population in the radiation model can result in about two orders of magnitude higher levels of OH UV radiation in comparison with the equilibrium model. Comparison of plume radiation modeling results with available experimental data shows satisfactory agreement. Accurate consideration of the Atlas II plume OH radiation made on the basis of the presented model eliminated the discrepancy with the experimental data reported before by other authors.