Monte Carlo analysis of dissociation and recombination behind strong shock waves in nitrogen

Computations are presented for the relaxation zone behind strong, one-dimensional shock waves in nitrogen. The analysis is performed with the direct simulation Monte Carlo method (DSMC). The DSMC code is vectorized for efficient use on a supercomputer. The code simulates translational, rotational and vibrational energy exchange and dissociative and recombinative chemical reactions. A new model is proposed for the treatment of three body recombination collisions in the DSMC technique which usually simulates binary collision events. The new model represents improvement over previous models in that it can be employed with a large range of chemical rate data, does not introduce into the flow field troublesome pairs of atoms which may recombine upon further collision (pseudo-particles) and is compatible with the vectorized code. The computational results are compared with existing experimental data. It is shown that the derivation of chemical rate coefficients must account for the degree of vibrational nonequilibrium in the flow. A nonequilibrium chemistry model is employed together with equilibrium rate data to compute successfully the flow in several different nitrogen shock waves.This article was processed using Springer-Verlag T_EX Shock Waves macro package 1990.