Butler, K.
(2002),
A Numerical Model for Combustion of Bubbling Thermoplastic Materials in Microgravity, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861181
(Accessed October 11, 2025)
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A Numerical Model for Combustion of Bubbling Thermoplastic Materials in Microgravity
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Author(s)
Abstract
A numerical model is demonstrated for the pyrolysis of a spherical thermoplastic sample in microgravity including effects of bubbles. The model combines nucleation, growth, and migration of individual bubbles in 3-D space with a finite element model that solves the 1-D radial equation for the temperature field. Energy calculations include surface losses due to radiation and convection, conductive heat transfer through the mixture of gaseous and condensed phase material, and the chemistry of gasification. Gases released by bursting bubbles determine the mass loss rate from the sample.Citation
NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 6894
Report Number
6894
NIST Pub Series
Pub Type
NIST Pubs
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Keywords
bubbles, combustion, finite element model, microgravity, numerical model, pyrolysis, thermoplastic materials
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Created August 1, 2002, Updated June 2, 2021