Numerical investigation of strut-dual cavity flame holders for enhanced combustion performance in scramjet engines

Scramjet engines hold significant promise for hypersonic propulsion, yet the complexities of supersonic combustion pose considerable challenges. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) offers a cost-effective approach to studying turbulent reactive flows in such systems, particularly addressing the critical turbulence-chemistry interactions that differ from conventional combustion. This study employs two-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations to evaluate a novel strut-dual cavity flame holder in scramjet combustors. Among various configurations analyzed, the double-step cavity demonstrated a superior balance, achieving high combustion efficiency with moderate total pressure loss. The numerical model was validated against experimental data, confirming its reliability and predictive accuracy. The findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating cavity-based geometries with strut injectors in enhancing fuel-air mixing and stabilizing combustion. This research underscores the strut-dual cavity flame holder's potential as a practical solution for advancing scramjet performance in hypersonic applications.