Combustion instability arises due to an interaction between combustion and acoustic waves.
Essentially the sound waves perturb the flame, whilst the unsteady combustion generates yet more sound. The present study examines this interaction, and is currently concerned with using CFD to model the unsteady response of a bluff-body stabilised, premixed flame, burning within a cylindrical duct, subject to an oscillation in the oncoming flow. Experimental work has shown that in such a geometry the unsteady burning is influenced mainly by fluctuations in the flow velocity at the flame-holder. Cant Click here to return to Research Topics.