Numerical simulation of failure of target irradiated by high-power laser subjected to supersonic airflow

A preliminary coupled thermal-fluid-structure numerical method which reflects interaction of laser, airflow and target is presented, in order to investigate failure behavior of the target irradiated by high-power laser subjected to supersonic airflow (at Mach number 1.2-4.0). The influences of different coupling methods on the target temperature are investigated. Also, the influences of laser power density and airflow velocity on the failure behavior of the irradiated target are investigated, where irradiation times to reach the yield failure and melting failure are the main concern. Results show that, laser power density significantly affects the failure behavior; there is a critical Mach number at which irradiation times to reach yield failure and melting failure are the longest. By quantitatively evaluating the aerodynamic heating, aerodynamic cooling and energy distribution for different Mach numbers, we explain the mechanism for the critical Mach number.