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Computational solutions from three different groups are compared to ascertain current capabilities for using CFD techniques in the design of injector elements for gas-gas rocket engines. Results are compared for a single element injector configuration for which detailed local flowfield measurements are available. The results show that all computations are similar in quality, and that all provide reasonable predictions of the resulting flowfield. Specific issues of concern in the computations are summarized. Overall, capabilities for single element modeling are deemed to be acceptable as long as the solutions remain axisymmetric. Practical extension to three-dimensions appears to be feasible in the near future, while the prediction of configurations that use liquid propellents requires additional physical model development.Computational fluid dynamics is beginning to assume a major role in many engineering design applications. Algorithms have made steady progress, both in terms of accuracy and efficiency. Grid generation techniques are likewise improving and becoming both more capable and easier to use. Pre-and postprocessing packages that allow easy manipulation of the voluminous data files created by and for CFD solutions are now widely available. Finally, a large cadre of people with specific skills in the CFD area is available to work on CFD improvements and applications. Although each of these factors is important in the advancement of CFD, the most significant factor has been the continual improvements in the capability of modern computers. The recent advent of practical parallel systems with high speed processors and very large central memories promises to accelerate this pace, and the implementation of CFD into design methodologies is expected to increase.Despite this progress in CFD, most current design applications are in fields in which fluid dynamics or aerodynamics is the only phenomenon of interest.Engineering applications that couple fluids with other complex physics have remained beyond practical day-to-day capabilities and are just now emerging as potential design applications. Of the broad variety of coupled physical Downloaded by CARLETON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY on July 31, 2015 | http://arc.aiaa.org | phenomena that are of interest in engineering applications, our present focus is on applications in rocket combustors where the fluid dynamic equations are complemented by numerous species diffusion equations, atomization and vaporization phenomena, and a turbulence combustion model. In the present paper, we limit our attention to gas-gas hydrogen-oxygen combustors with a single injector element. The main purpose is to provide an assessment of current capabilities for using CFD as an aid in injector element design for the gas-gas engines that are of much current practical interest. Prospects for extending to more complex configurations are also discussed.Detailed understanding and prediction of rocket flowfields is needed to provide an integrated design methodology that can reduce combustor development...

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