Tetra Research Corporation


A Computational Fluid Dynamics Company

Stage Separation Example Using CHEM Vehicle and Plume Example Space Shuttle Main Engine Located at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL

Loci/CHEM Developer's Publications

Principal Loci/CHEM developer Dr. Ed Luke's publications provide additional insight into the Loci framework as it relates to the development of generalized computational field simulation codes, of which CHEM is one example. CHEM is an unusually robust yet accurate two phase, turbulent, chemically reacting flow solver that operates on arbitrary polyhedral meshes. It is being used extensively by NASA/MSFC and industry to solve challenging CFD problems. Add-on modules for real fluid equations of state, Six DOF Body Motion, and solid rocket motor simulations have also been developed.

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Information About Loci/CHEM

Loci (plural of locus) is a C++ library and declarative programming framework that efficiently maps numerical algorithms onto parallel architectures. The approach is logic-based so that it allows a description of what the code should accomplish, but it does not dictate how to accomplish it (as in imperative programming). Loci is thus a flexible, rule-based programming model for numerical simulation that allows runtime scheduling of the appropriate subroutine calls required to obtain a user specified goal. The front-end generates a fact database from the rules, generates the query (e.g., what is the flow solution?), and then assembles the rules into an application (CHEM) that simulates 3D flows of turbulent, chemically reacting mixtures of thermally perfect gases. Loci handles the parallel scheduling, load balancing, dynamic memory management, and cache optimization. From a programming standpoint, it is relatively easy to solve new problems by changing the fact database, adding new rules, or changing the query, and this advantage is what makes the Loci/CHEM code innovative and unique.

Tetra Research is a member of the Loci/CHEM development team that supports NASA, industry, and university users of the code. We work closely with the creator of the Loci framework, Dr. Ed Luke of Mississippi State University, on numerous R&D projects to ensure that CHEM is able to solve the most challenging computational field simulations. We also offer specialized code development, validation and application support, and general consulting for achieving enhanced productivity with Loci/CHEM.

Loci/CHEM is currently in production use at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and is generally available to the U.S. Government and their contractors. Please contact us for information on how to request the baseline code. A simple registration procedure allows you to download the source code, after which you may use CHEM on your own or contract us for further assistance, depending on your needs.

Selected examples of CHEM capabilities are located on this site and also on the web site maintained by Dr. Ed Luke. The technical development and further user applications are contained in these research papers:

  1. Morris, C. I. and Ruf, J. H., Validation of Supersonic Film Cooling Modeling for Liquid Rocket Nozzle Applications, AIAA 2010-6657.
  2. Hood, C. and Sims, J., Internal Flow Modeling of a Simulated Solid Propellant-Liner Debond Using Loci/CHEM, AIAA 2010-7164.
  3. Veluri, S. P., Code Verification and Numerical Accuracy Assessment for Finite Volume CFD Codes, Ph.D. Dissertation, Virginia Tech, August 2010.
  4. Veluri, S. P., Roy, C. J., and Luke, E. A., Comprehensive Code Verification for an Unstructured Finite Volume CFD Code, AIAA 2010-127.
  5. Roy, C. J., Tendean, E., Veluri, S. P., Rifki, R., Luke, E. A., and Hebert, S., Verification of RANS Turbulence Models in Loci/CHEM Using the Method of Manufactured Solutions, AIAA 2007-4203.
  6. Mack, Y., Haftka, R., Segal, C., Queipo, N., and Shyy, W., Computational Modeling and Sensitivity Evaluation of Liquid Rocket Injector Flow, AIAA 2007-5592.
  7. Westra, D., Lin, J., West, J., and Tucker, K., Use, Assessment, and Improvement of the Loci/CHEM CFD Code for Simulation of Combustion in a Single Element GO2/GH2 Injector and Chamber, TFAWS 2006.
  8. West, J., Westra, D., Lin, J., and Tucker, K., Accuracy Quantification of the Loci/CHEM Code for Chamber Wall Heat Fluxes in a GO2/GH2 Single Element Injector Model Problem, NASA/MSFC, 2006.
  9. Luke, E. A., Tong, X-L., Wu, J., Tang, L., and Cinnella, P., CHEM: A Chemically Reacting Flow Solver for Generalized Grids, AIAA 2003.