Theoretical and Numerical Framework for Characterizing Multidimensional Detonation Wave-Turbulence Interactions

Detonation waves are inherently multidimensional due to intrinsic flow instabilities and turbulence. The two-way coupled interaction between turbulence and detonation wave structure is not well understood. Often, simulations invoked simplifying assumptions for turbulence or detonation structure that did not capture the fundamental physics. This study proposes a theoretical framework to probe the interaction between detonation wave structure and turbulence. A detonation regime diagram is developed which relates qualitatively the turbulence intensity to integral length scale, both normalized by detonation properties (CJ velocity and induction length, respectively). Different regions of detonation wave structure exist based on the relative size of the detonation induction length compared to the Kolmogorov length scale. To test the numerical framework, Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) with detailed chemistry and transport are performed for different conditions within the detonation regime diagram.