Hypersonic Vehicle Analyses: The Needs and Challenges of Multidisciplinary Simulations

A key aspect of Sensitivity Analysis is the soba index, which measures the level of influence of a particular process on determining a quantity of interest. In this case, the quantity of interest is the total infrared radiation generated at different locations along the vehicle surface. The SOOL index identifies the chemical reactions that most affect the infrared radiation among the 195 reactions being studied.

One important reaction identified by the SOOL index is the First Zeldovich reaction, where an N two molecule interacts with an oxygen atom to form an nano molecule and a nitrogen atom. This reaction is crucial because NO is one of the strongest radiating molecular species in this portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The result indicates that this reaction is the most important across the vehicle surface under the given conditions.

This information can be used to prioritize certain reactions for further study, such as through shop troop studies or Computational Chemistry studies. By focusing on reactions identified as important by the soba index, researchers can decrease uncertainty and improve understanding of the processes influencing infrared radiation generation. Additional reactions of interest can also be identified by analyzing the data presented in the figures, allowing for a more targeted approach to research and analysis.