Modelling of carbon-carbon composite ablation in rocket nozzles

The modelling of ablation of carbon/carbon (C/C) composites utilized as rocket engine hot parts is addressed under the angle of the competition between bulk transport of reactants and heterogeneous mass transfer, associated to reactivity contrasts between constituent phases. A numerical solver based on a simple model and built on a VOF technique allows direct simulation at two scales. Its application to actual complex materials is performed: the results are consistent with experimental data and help understanding the origin of the material behaviour, either in terms of acquired surface morphology or in terms of effective recession rate. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.