RAPRAL: New Tool for Hypersonic Airflow Radiation Prediction

RAPRAL (RAdiation Prediction based on RAy tracing and Line-by-line) v1.0 is a newly developed radiation solver implemented in C++ for simulating high-temperature thermochemical nonequilibrium radiative processes. It integrates detailed line-by-line spectral modeling with a ray-tracing solution of the radiative transfer equation, enabling accurate resolution of both spectral features and spatial radiation transport. The code's accuracy has been validated by comparing its results with established codes, demonstrating its ability to capture key spectral features across a wide range of conditions. Furthermore, RAPRAL has been applied to predict afterbody radiative heating in the Fire II flight experiment, based on a two-temperature, 11-species air flowfield, providing reliable predictions of radiative heat flux. The tool is considered robust for simulating radiative processes in hypersonic air flows, and future versions will extend its capabilities to include species relevant to planetary atmospheres, making it valuable for planetary exploration and entry vehicle design.

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