Solutions of the full Navier-Stokes equations for reacting three-dimensional chemical laser cavity and diffuser flow fields

This paper addresses a computer model that is capable of predicting chemical laser performance and pressure recovery for complex three-dimensional chemical laser configurations. The time-dependent numerical technique allows for complex arbitrary geometrical boundaries, the solution of the full three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations with a turbulent kinetic energy model, and chemical vibrational and rotational nonequilibrium chemistry (including gain calculations). Calculations are compared with measurements for both (1) a three-dimensional viscous chemical laser cavity flow with swirl-inducing trip injection, and (2) a radial vane diffuser with multiple internal shock/boundary layer interactions.