SIMULATION OF HYPERSONIC FLOWS USING A DETAILED NITRIC-OXIDE FORMATION MODEL

In this paper the extensive quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) study rece ntly concluded [J. Chem. Phys. 104, 2825 (1996)] is used to model the kinetics of the primary NO formation reaction, N-2+O-->NO+N, in hypers onic nonequilibrium flows. The QCT data are used to obtain expressions for the thermal rate constant, reactant energy removal, and product e nergy disposal rates of this reaction. The QCT results are coupled wit h the continuum conservation flow equations, and these equations are u sed to simulate the Bow-Shock UltraViolet2 (BSUV2) flow at altitudes b etween 75 to 87.5 km. It is found that the use of the Macheret and Ric h [Chem. Phys. 174, 25 (1993)] vibration-dissociation coupling model a long with the QCT rates gives improvements in the NO concentration pre dictions at altitudes between 80 and 85 km. Also, it is found that the vibrational and rotational temperatures of NO are much higher than th at of the N-2 and O-2 in the gas, in accordance with the BSUV2 measure ments. The amount of NO produced in the flow fields at 87.5 km and abo ve is found to be strongly dependent on the free-stream density of ato mic oxygen. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.