Independent Stage Control of a Cascade Injector

A comprehensive investigation of independent stage control as applied to a cascade injector was completed. It was experimentally demonstrated that altering the number of active stages in the cascade could control the plume structure of this injector. Influence coefficient analysis showed that the first stage governed penetration height. Power law correlation comparison found the cascade injector penetrated higher than a normal, circular injector by a factor of 3.5. Corresponding computational data showed agreement with the experimental data in terms of penetration distance, but less accuracy in predicting plume width. A turbulence model study indicated the Menter model to have the closest agreement with experimental data. However, the fine grid solution produced using Wilcox k-ω was later found to have better agreement. The computational data was also used to produce a synthetic signal similar to the experimental planar laser induced fluorescence signal that improved agreement with the experimental data. This material is declared a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.