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At least 37 records · Page 2

Shock Waves Mitigation at Blunt Bodies Using Needles and Shells Against a Supersonic Flow

The paper contains some experimental and numerical simulation test results on cylindrical blunt body drag reduction using thin spikes or shell mounted in front of a body against a supersonic flow. Experimental tests were conducted using the Aeromechanics and Gas Dynamics Laboratory facilities at the Institute of Mechanics of Moscow State University (IMMSU). Numerical simulations utilizing NASA and IM/MSU codes were conducted at the Hampton University Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics Laboratory. The main purpose of this research is to examine the efficiency of application of multiple spikes for drag reduction and flow stability at the front of a blunt body in different flight conditions, i.e. Mach number, angle of attack, etc. The principal conclusions of these test results are: multiple spike/needle application leads to decrease of drag reduction benefits by comparison with the case of one central mounted needle at the front of a blunt body, but increase lift benefits.

Gilinsky, M.

Blunt-Body Paradox and Improved Application of Transient-Growth Framework

The “Reshotko-Tumin transition criterion" based on optimal transient growth successfully correlates laboratory measurements of roughness induced transition over blunt body configurations. Even though transient growth has not been conclusively linked to the measured onset of transition, the above correlation denotes the only available physics-based model for subcritical transition in blunt body flows, since the latter do not support any modal instabilities at typical experimental conditions. Unlike other established models based on empirical curve fits that are valid for a specific subclass of datasets, the optimal-growth-based transition criterion appears to provide a reasonable correlation with measurements in various wind tunnel and ballistic range facilities and for a broad range of surface temperature ratios. This paper is focused on optimal growth calculations that improve upon significant shortcomings of the computations underlying the Reshotko-Tumin correlation. The improved framework is applied to leeward transition over a spherical section forebody that was tested in the Mach 6 Adjustable Contour Expansion wind tunnel at Texas A&M University. The computed results highlight the significance of nonparallel basic state evolution, curvature terms, and an optimization procedure that varies both inflow and outflow locations of the transient growth interval. More important, the results indicate that the modified correlation is very close to its original form, and hence, that the accuracy of the transient-growth-based transition criterion is not compromised by using a more thorough theoretical framework. Yet the results also show that the optimal energy gain up to the predicted transition onset location can be rather small, highlighting the need to further investigate the optimal growth criterion for additional experimental configurations and to also uncover the in-depth physics underlying blunt body transition.

Freestream conditions

Improvements to RANS Modeling for Aeroheating Predictions on Blunt Bodies

Accurate predictions of aeroheating are critical for designing thermal protection systems for planetary entry vehicles. For larger vehicles, turbulence in the boundary layer can substantially increase convective heating. This turbulence must be accurately modeled to ensure the thermal protection system is sufficient. The majority of hypersonic turbulence model development and validation focuses on boundary layers developing over flat-plates or sharp cones; these cases are substantially different than the boundary layer that develops over the heatshield of a blunt body traveling at hypersonic speeds. Planetary missions often use blunt body geometries, such as the 70-degree sphere-cone favored by Mars missions or the 45-degree sphere-cone planned for the upcoming DAVINCI mission. Due to smaller vehicle size and the lower velocities in the stagnation region, planetary entry vehicles have relatively low Reynolds numbers. Surface curvature and high enthalpy gradients create additional challenges. These difficulties must be addressed to obtain high accuracy needed for the ambitious planetary missions in the upcoming decade. This work focuses on both assessing and improving Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models for blunt-body geometries typical of planetary entry vehicles, with a focus on one-equation and two-equation formulations.

Mars2020

Application of the method of integral relations to boundary layer flows over blunt bodies

Calculations of boundary layer flows past blunt bodies at angles of incidence are presented. Using the method of integral relations together with the method of lines, the full three-dimensional boundary layer equations are reduced to a system of first-order ordinary differential equations. The streamwise shear stress function and the cross-flow velocity component are represented as suitable functions of the streamwise velocity component. The role of the zone of dependence is automatically satisfied by the choice of differencing in the method of lines. Solutions correct to the second order are obtained in the positive shear region for flow over an ellipsoid at 30-deg incidence. The results are compared with corresponding finite difference solutions.

Modarress, D.

Blunt-Body Entry Vehicle Aerothermodynamics: Transition and Turbulence on the CEV and MSL Configurations

Recent, current, and planned NASA missions that employ blunt-body entry vehicles pose aerothermodynamic problems that challenge the state-of-the art of experimental and computational methods. The issues of boundary-layer transition and turbulent heating on the heat shield have become important in the designs of both the Mars Science Laboratory and Crew Exploration Vehicle. While considerable experience in these general areas exists, that experience is mainly derived from simple geometries; e.g. sharp-cones and flat-plates, or from lifting bodies such as the Space Shuttle Orbiter. For blunt-body vehicles, application of existing data, correlations, and comparisons is questionable because an all, or mostly, subsonic flow field is produced behind the bow shock, as compared to the supersonic (or even hypersonic) flow of other configurations. Because of the need for design and validation data for projects such as MSL and CEV, many new experimental studies have been conducted in the last decade to obtain detailed boundary-layer transition and turbulent heating data on this class of vehicle. In this paper, details of several of the test programs are reviewed. The laminar and turbulent data from these various test are shown to correlate in terms of edge-based Stanton and Reynolds number functions. Correlations are developed from the data for transition onset and turbulent heating augmentation as functions of momentum thickness Reynolds number. These correlation can be employed as engineering-level design and analysis tools.

Hollis, Brian R.