What is the importance of cold flow analysis in Hybrid Rocket Propulsion?
Classicaly, experimental cold flow studies (mean and rms PIV fields for example) are taken as a first validation for CFD simulations of a complex system. It helps to develop accurate combustion simulations by assuring that the aerodynamics are already well modeled
I fully agree with previous answers. I can add one more thing. The combustion process of a hybrid rocket motor is diffusive-limited. In this case, the fluid dynamic structure of the flame is not alter by the presence of the flame itself (check Poinsot-Veynante textbook). The flow path that you find in the cold flow tests are very likely to be the same that you find during combustion, if the blowing from the burning surface is small enough (and in general it is, for pyrolyzing fuels).
The physics of hybrid propulsion has been unravelled long ago. Performing cold flow analysis in standard configurations is like master class home assignment. If there are serious questions of combustion behavior, performing reactive flow simulations using mixture fraction approach will be necessary and will be insightful. Thus, it is far more important to pose the precise question on a hybrid rocket motor combustion behavior rather than seeking general purpose answers. They will only be decorative, not useful!
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