Overlay method for calculating excited state species properties in hypersonic flows

The overlay method is an effective method for calculation of excited state species and chemical species present in trace amounts in hypersonic flows. The method involves solving the Navier-Stokes equations, simulating the flowfield and overlaying the mass conversion equations for the traces of chemical species on the computed flowfield. Conditions such as CO(a) kinetics in an expanding flow and CO(a) formation in a rocket motor nozzle demonstrate the usefulness of the method. The method enables sensitivity analysis of kinetics modeling and comparison with radiance data obtained in flight.