Turbulence in cooling channels of rocket engines: Large Eddy Simulations

The aim of this Note is to predict by means of large eddy simulations the three-dimensional structures and secondary mass and heat fluxes which develop within a heated curved duct, for applications to rocket engines cooling channels. We show the existence of unsteady Görtler-type vortices above the concave wall, as well as intense secondary vortices taking the shape of two quasi-steady counter-rotating cells of Ekman type close to the convex wall. These cells control heat exchanges. They induce ejections and sweeps close to the convex wall when it is heated. In this case the Nusselt number undergoes strong transverse fluctuations which might induce material alterations.