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At least 433 records · Page 24

A Structured-Grid Quality Measure for Simulated Hypersonic Flows

A structured-grid quality measure is proposed, combining three traditional measurements: intersection angles, stretching, and curvature. Quality assesses whether the grid generated provides the best possible tradeoffs in grid stretching and skewness that enable accurate flow predictions, whereas the grid density is assumed to be a constraint imposed by the available computational resources and the desired resolution of the flow field. The usefulness of this quality measure is assessed by comparing heat transfer predictions from grid convergence studies for grids of varying quality in the range of [0.6-0.8] on an 8'half-angle sphere-cone, at laminar, perfect gas, Mach 10 wind tunnel conditions.

Alter, Stephen J.↗

HyBoLT Flight Experiment

HyBoLT was a Hypersonic Boundary Layer Transition flight experiment funded by the Hypersonics Project of the Fundamental Aeronautics Program in NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. The HyBoLT test article mounted on the top of the ALV X-1 rocket was launched from Virginia's Wallops Island on August 22, 2008. Unfortunately a problem in the rocket's flight control system caused the vehicle to veer off the designed flight course. Launch officials activated a self-destruct mechanism in the rocket's nose cone after 20 seconds into flight. This report is a closeout document about the HyBoLT flight experiment. Details are provided of the objectives and approach associated with this experimental program as well as the 20 seconds flight data acquired before the vehicle was destroyed.

Chen, Fang-Jeng (Frank)↗

DSMC Computations for Regions of Shock/Shock and Shock/Boundary Layer Interaction

This paper presents the results of a numerical study of hypersonic interacting flows at flow conditions that include those for which experiments have been conducted in the Calspan-University of Buffalo Research Center (CUBRC) Large Energy National Shock (LENS) tunnel and the ONERA R5Ch low-density wind tunnel. The computations are made with the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method of Bird. The focus is on Mach 9.3 to 11.4 flows about flared axisymmetric configurations, both hollow cylinder flares and double cones. The results presented highlight the sensitivity of the calculations to grid resolution, provide results concerning the conditions for incipient separation, and provide information concerning the flow structure and surface results for the extent of separation, heating, pressure, and skin friction.

Moss, James N.↗

DSMC Computations for Regions of Shock/Shock and Shock/Boundary Layer Interaction

This paper presents the results of a numerical study of hypersonic interacting flows at flow conditions that include those for which experiments have been conducted in the Calspan-University of Buffalo Research Center (CUBRC) Large Energy National Shock (LENS) tunnel and the ONERA R5Ch low-density wind tunnel. The computations are made with the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method of Bird. The focus is on Mach 9.3 to 11.4 flows about flared axisymmetric configurations, both hollow cylinder flares and double cones. The results presented highlight the sensitivity of the calculations to grid resolution, provide results concerning the conditions for incipient separation, and provide information concerning the flow structure and surface results for the extent of separation, heating, pressure, and skin friction.

Moss, James N.↗

Boundary Layer Transition over Blunt Hypersonic Vehicles Including Effects of Ablation-Induced Out-Gassing

Computations are performed to study the boundary layer instability mechanisms pertaining to hypersonic flow over blunt capsules. For capsules with ablative heat shields, transition may be influenced both by out-gassing associated with surface pyrolysis and the resulting modification of surface geometry including the formation of micro-roughness. To isolate the effects of out-gassing, this paper examines the stability of canonical boundary layer flows over a smooth surface in the presence of gas injection into the boundary layer. For a slender cone, the effects of out-gassing on the predominantly second mode instability are found to be stabilizing. In contrast, for a blunt capsule flow dominated by first mode instability, out-gassing is shown to be destabilizing. Analogous destabilizing effects of outgassing are also noted for both stationary and traveling modes of crossflow instability over a blunt sphere-cone configuration at angle of attack.

Li, Fei↗

Computational simulation of flows about hypersonic geometries with sharp leading edges

Hypersonic waverider design has become an important concern in the aerospace industry. As one part of an inverse design effort for waveriders, work has been done to apply existing Euler and Navier-Stokies flow solvers to hypersonic geometries with sharp leading edges. Previously, calculations were done on bodies with rounded leading edges or with conical solutions for the nose initial conditions. In this paper, solutions are computed about waveriders and conical shapes with sharp leading edges without resorting to either shortrcut. All solutions show attached shocks with fully supersonic flows at the nose and along the leading edges. Flows about several waverider shapes are shown, as well as a preliminary cone with inlet calculation to study the shock/inlet interaction.

Jones, Kevin D.↗

Engineering calculations of three-dimensional inviscid hypersonic flow fields

An approximate solution technique has been developed for three-dimensional, inviscid, hypersonic flows. The method uses Maslen's explicit pressure equation and the assumption of approximate stream surfaces in the shock layer. This approximation represents a simplification of Maslen's asymmetric method. The solution procedure involves iteratively changing the shock shape in the subsonic-transonic region until the correct body shape is obtained. Beyond this region, the shock surface is determined by using a marching procedure. Results are presented herein for a paraboloid and elliptic cone at angle of attack. Calculated surface pressure distributions, shock shapes, and property profiles are compared with experimental data and finite-difference solutions of the Euler equations. Comparisons of the results of the present method with experimental data and detailed predictions are very good. Since the present method provides a very rapid computational procedure, it can be used for parametric or preliminary design applications. One useful application would be to incorporate a heating procedure for aerothermal studies.

Riley, Christopher J.↗

Experimental and theoretical aerodynamic heating and flow field analysis of a space shuttle orbiter

The results of work on the McDonnell Douglas delta wing orbiter are summarized and compared to other data and theories where applicable. The tests were conducted in the continuous hypersonic Tunnel B at Mach 8 and in the hypervelocity hotshot Tunnel F at Mach 10.5. Photographic data are used to illustrate the regions of peak heating on the lee-side and to show the vortical nature of the flow. Windward centerline data include measurements of shock angle, surface pressure, flow field pitot pressure and total temperature, and heat transfer rate coefficient distributions. Shock angles, surface pressures, and local Mach number distributions are compared with tangent cone theory over an angle of attack range from 10 to 60 deg. The measured heat transfer rate coefficient distributions are compared to both laminar and turbulent theories and boundary layer transition data are compared to the McDonnell Douglas criteria.

Matthews, R. K.↗

Improved nonequilibrium viscous shock-layer scheme for hypersonic blunt-body flowfields

The nonequilibrium viscous shock-layer (VSL) solution scheme is revisited to improve its solution accuracy in the stagnation region and also to minimize and control errors in the conservation of elemental mass. The stagnation-point solution is improved by using a second-order expansion for the normal velocity, and the elemental mass conservation is improved by directly imposing the element conservation equations as solution constraints. These modifications are such that the general structure and computational efficiency of the nonequilibrium VSL scheme is not affected. This revised nonequilibrium VSL scheme is used to study the Mach 20 flow over a 7-deg sphere-cone vehicle under 0- and 20-deg angle-of-attack conditions. Comparisons are made with the corresponding predictions of Navier-Stokes and parabolized Navier-Stokes solution schemes. The results of these tests show that the nonequilibrium blunt-body VSL scheme is indeed an accurate, fast, and extremely efficient means for generating the blunt-body flowfield over spherical nose tips at zero-to-large angles of attack.

Bhutta, Bilal A.↗

Development and Breakdown of Goertler Vortices in High Speed Boundary Layers

The nonlinear development of G rtler instability over a concave surface gives rise to a highly distorted stationary flow in the boundary layer that has strong velocity gradients in both spanwise and wall-normal directions. This distorted flow is susceptible to strong, high frequency secondary instability that leads to the onset of transition. For high Mach number flows, the boundary layer is also subject to the second mode instability. The nonlinear development of G rtler vortices and the ensuing growth and breakdown of secondary instability, the G rtler vortex interactions with second mode instabilities as well as oblique second mode interactions are examined in the context of both internal and external hypersonic configurations using nonlinear parabolized stability equations, 2-D eigenvalue analysis and direct numerical simulation. For G rtler vortex development inside the Purdue Mach 6 Ludwieg tube wind tunnel, multiple families of unstable secondary eigenmodes are identified and their linear and nonlinear evolution is examined. The computation of secondary instability is continued past the onset of transition to elucidate the physical mechanisms underlying the laminar breakdown process. Nonlinear breakdown scenarios associated with transition over a Mach 6 compression cone configuration are also explored.

Li, Fei↗

Recent improvements in the nonequilibrium VSL scheme for hypersonic blunt-body flows

The nonequilibrium viscous shock-layer (VSL) solution scheme is revisited to improve its solution accuracy in the stagnation point region and also to minimize and control the errors in the conservation of elemental mass. The stagnation-point solution is improved by using a second-order expansion for the normal velocity and the elemental mass conservation is improved by directly imposing the element conservation equations as solution constraints. These modifications are such that the general structure and computational efficiency of the nonequilibrium VSL scheme is not affected. This revised nonequilibrium VSL scheme is used to study the Mach 20 flow over a 7-deg sphere-cone vehicle under zero and 20-deg angle-of-attack conditons. Comparisons are made with the corresponding predictions of Navier-Stokes and Parabolized Navier-Stokes solution schemes. The results of these tests show that the nonequilibrium blunt-body VSL scheme is indeed an accurate, fast and extremely efficient means for generating the blunt-body flowfield over spherical nosetips at small-to-large angles of attack.

Bhutta, Bilal A.↗

PNS predictions of axisymmetric hypersonic blunt-body and afterbody flowfields

A new space-marching full-body PNS algorithm capable of treating the complete blunt-body and afterbody flowfields over typical wide-bodied configurations is developed and demonstrated. A hybrid differencing scheme involving Flux-Vector Splitting (FVS) across embedded shocks and flowfield discontinuities, and central differencing in smooth (shock-free) regions is used. It is demonstrated that this new full-body PNS scheme can be marched from the spherical stagnation point over the entire body using bow-shock capturing, and provides an efficient and effective way for predicting blunt-body flowfields for various reentry application. The Mach 20 flow over a 30-deg sphere cone is predicted and comparisons are made with an existing VSL scheme for the blunt-body region and an existing PNS scheme for the conical afterbody region. The predicted flowfield and surface-measurable quantities are in excellent agreement, and demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the new full-body PNS scheme.

Bhutta, Bilal A.↗

Computing viscous reactive flow over blunt winged vehicles

A hypersonic flow simulation methodology is developed for analyzing thermochemical nonequilibrium and viscous phenomena associated with space-flight vehicles at realistic conditions. The computer code consists of grid generation, Navier-Stokes and species models, and equation solvers for a complete configuration at arbitrary angles of attack. Provisions are implemented in the code to consider chemically frozen or equilibrium chemistry, inviscid model, conic configurations and simplifications of physical parameters for verifying solution consistency and accuracy. Implications of physical modeling and input parameters on a blunt-cone flow are investigated in details. Applications to USA Orbiter-like vehicles have emphasized the leeside canopy flow as well as the bow-wing shock interaction problem at Mach 22 and 40 deg angle of attack. Comparison of windward centerline pressures and heating rates with available wind-tunnel and flight data is in progress.

Li, C. P.↗

Wind-US Code Physical Modeling Improvements to Complement Hypersonic Testing and Evaluation

This report gives an overview of physical modeling enhancements to the Wind-US flow solver which were made to improve the capabilities for simulation of hypersonic flows and the reliability of computations to complement hypersonic testing. The improvements include advanced turbulence models, a bypass transition model, a conjugate (or closely coupled to vehicle structure) conduction-convection heat transfer capability, and an upgraded high-speed combustion solver. A Mach 5 shock-wave boundary layer interaction problem is used to investigate the benefits of k- s and k-w based explicit algebraic stress turbulence models relative to linear two-equation models. The bypass transition model is validated using data from experiments for incompressible boundary layers and a Mach 7.9 cone flow. The conjugate heat transfer method is validated for a test case involving reacting H2-O2 rocket exhaust over cooled calorimeter panels. A dual-mode scramjet configuration is investigated using both a simplified 1-step kinetics mechanism and an 8-step mechanism. Additionally, variations in the turbulent Prandtl and Schmidt numbers are considered for this scramjet configuration.

Georgiadis, Nicholas J.↗

Prediction of thermal fluxes to very blunt planetary entry vehicles by the integral method.

An integral method which has previously been applied to the hypersonic blunt body thermal problem is improved and extended to obtain downstream flux predictions and to improve stagnation predictions. To account for the effect of downstream conditions propagated upstream through the subsonic shock layer region, the normal momentum equation is solved simultaneously with the other governing conservation equations. The effects of viscosity, conduction, dissociation and ionization, nongray radiation, surface emissivity, and ablation are included. Illustrative results are presented for body models of hemispheres and a continuous curvature body which closely approximates a hemispherically blunted wide angle (60 half angle) cone. The atmospheric models are air and a 50% Co2-50% N mixture at low densities, which should be representative of the Martian or Venusian atmospheres.

Burns, R. K.↗

A survey of leeside flow and heat transfer on delta planform configurations

The dominant feature of hypersonic leeside flow fields is the presence of coiled vortices which are generated as the leeside boundary layer responds to the inviscid flow field. Depending on geometric and stream parameters, the vortices can be completely maintained within the boundary layer or can lie outside which is the more familiar case of rolled-up vortices associated with separated flow. Three main areas are covered: (1) fundamental leeside flow phenomena associated with inviscid flows, separation and vortex phenomena involving viscid-inviscid interactions on sharp-edged delta wings and cones; (2) the application of these fundamental concepts to delta-wing bodies such as the space shuttle; and (3) the opportunity and a proposed approach to use early shuttle orbiter entry flights to obtain leeside data.

Dunavant, J. C.↗

Analysis of hypersonic arcjet flow fields and surface heating of blunt bodies

A Gauss-Seidel implicit aerothermodynamic Navier-Stokes computational CFD code with thermochemical surface conditions (GIANTS) and with appropriate boundary conditions was developed for the analysis of hypersonic arcjet flows over large angle blunt bodies. Two-dimensional axisymmetric multicomponent full Navier-Stokes equations were solved, together with boundary conditions, to account for the surface slip, surface catalysis, and energy and mass conservation at the body surface. It is shown that the predictions for isothermal, noncatalytic, and no-slip surface conditions which are made using the GIANTS code with simple boundary conditions agree with those of the LAURA code, and the predicted normalized heating distributions over the forebody surface with boundary conditions for various cone angles are consistent with the trends of data from arcjet experiments.

Chen, Y.-K.↗

Simulations of Boundary-Layer Transition

For incompressible benchmark flows, we have demonstrated the capability of the parabolized stability equations (PSE) to simulate the transition process in excellent agreement with microscopic experiments and direct Navier-Stokes simulations at modest computational cost. Encouraged by these results, we have developed the PSE methodology of three-dimensional boundary-layers in general curvilinear coordinates for the range from low to hypersonic speeds, and for both linear and nonlinear problems. For given initial and boundary conditions, the approach permits simulations from receptivity through linear and secondary instabilities into the late stages of transition where significant changes in skin friction and heat transfer coefficients occur. We have performed transition simulations for a variety of two- and three-dimensional similarity solutions and for realistic flows over swept wings at subsonic and supersonic speeds, the pressure ans suction side of turbine blades at low and medium turbulence levels, and over a blunt cone at Mach number Ma = 8. We present selected results for different transition mechanisms with emphasis on the late stage of transition and the evolution of wall-shear stress and heat transfer.

Herbert, Thorwald↗