Multi-Phase Flow and Multi-Component Mass Transfer Effects in Aluminum Droplet Combustion

Detailed simulations have been completed of non-premixed gas-phase flames surrounding high-temperature aluminum droplets. Particulate aluminum is the most common metal additive for high explosives due to its energy density, however burn rates are slow compared other energetic components of the system. These crucial burn rates are difficult to measure and poorly modeled in the violent and hugely varied conditions present in post-detonation blast waves. To this end, the fundamental continuum scale reaction-diffusion simulations were performed accounting for detailed chemistry, multi-component mass transfer and Stefan flow. The multi-phase flow effects resulting from the condensation of aluminum-oxide product are accounted for and the associated properties are quantified.