Computational modeling of the structure of a high-current discharge in a magnetogasdynamic channel

A two-dimensional computational model is proposed to calculate radiative-convective heat transfer in gas flows with large gradients of physical properties. The model is based on the numerical solution of the unsteady dynamic equations for a compressible inviscid gas and the radiative transfer equations. Flow calculations for the magnetogasdynamic channel of a rail accelerator show that the dynamics of the process is substantially affected by the flow in the discharge region and hydrodynamic instability, resulting in the nonstationarity and nonuniformity of the flow and discharge structure. During the process, the discharge can exist both in the form of several current-carrying channels and in the form of a unified plasma formation. Results of the numerical calculations agree qualitative with experimental data.