Numerical study of the effect of electric fields on the combustion characteristics of PMMA under lateral inflow

To satisfy the demand for thrust control on solid rocket motors and solid ramjet engines, numerical simulation of the effect of high-voltage electric fields on the combustion characteristics of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) under lateral inflow was undertaken. The mechanism of the effect of electric fields on the regression rate and mass flow rate of PMMA was analyzed. The results show that PMMA mass flow rate can increase by about 54% when subjected to positive voltages. The PMMA mass flow rate can not only increase by about 5.5% but also decrease by about 14% under the action of negative voltages. When the oxygen mass fraction is 54.5% at 0.101 MPa, the effect of electric fields on PMMA mass flow is weakened as the lateral velocity increases. When the inflow velocity is 1.95 m s⁻¹ and oxygen mass fraction is 23.2%, the effect of electric fields on PMMA mass flow is decreased as the pressure rises. The effect of electric fields on PMMA regression rate is mainly due to the electric-field-induced volumetric body force. It will result in large-scale bulk flow movement, known as ionic wind, which changes the distribution of species and affects the heat of reaction, thus causing the changes in flame temperature, finally altering the thermal feedback to the solid phase.