Finite element analysis of the Scramaccelerator with hydrogen-oxygen combustion

The Scramaccelerator concept is examined through numerical calculations. A finite element algorithm for inviscid flow calculations is coupled to a chemistry package, and simulations of steady-state detonation waves in a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen are performed for several values of Mach number, projectileto-tube diameter ratio, mixture equivalence ratio, and fill pressure. The results are expressed in the form of thrust on the projectile. It is concluded that acceleration on the order of 10 m/s on a 200-g projectile could be achieved under the conditions considered.