Numerical Simulation of the Deflagration to Detonation Transition in a Tube with Repeated Obstacles: Experimental Scale Simulation Using the Artificial Thickened Flame Method

The Artificial Thickened Flame (ATF) method, which involves artificially increasing the flame thickness so as to simulate with a coarse grid resolution, is applied to reduce the computational cost of predicting the Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT) in a tube with repeated obstacles. While simulation results depended on the parameter N (the number of grid points in laminar flame thickness), it was found that N values of more than 10 may be excessive. The results show that the chosen simulation method predicts the flame speed as compared to a reference experiment and captures the detail of the strong ignitions near the corner between the obstacle and the sidewall. The present simulation also captures the wrinkle flame front structure during the acceleration of flame.