Coupled CFD-Ablation Response Model Simulations Using the Libmesh Framework

The DPLR Navier-Stokes flow solver is coupled to two Ablation Response Model (ARM) codes, CHAR and TITAN, using a modular approach where a central handler code runs the analysis codes iteratively and passes the required boundary condition values back and forth between the codes. The handler code is based on the libMesh software libraries. The libMesh mesh-free interpolation routines allow for the coupled analysis codes to be written in different programming languages and for the boundary point data to be non-point-matched. The boundary data is interpolated using a K-D Tree mesh-free interpolation approach. The basic execution flow for the coupled DPLR-ARM code is presented, and the coupled DPLR-ARM code is applied to arc jet test cases. The libMesh mesh-free interpolation successfully transferred the required boundary condition data between the fluid dynamic and material response codes, and the coupled DPLRARM surface recession rates matched experimental measurements as well as previous computations.