Gas Kinetic Scheme Coupled with High-Speed Modifications for Hypersonic Transition Flow Simulations

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• High-Speed Aerodynamics

Background:

• Accurate prediction of hypersonic boundary layer transition is crucial for high-speed vehicle design.
• Existing methods may lack the fidelity required for complex high-speed flow phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an advanced mesoscopic method for hypersonic boundary layer transition prediction.
• To enhance the predictive capability of the Langtry-Menter transition model for high-speed flows.

Main Methods:

• Coupling the gas kinetic scheme (GKS) with the Langtry-Menter transition model, including its high-speed modifications.
• Incorporating turbulent kinetic energy into the Maxwellian velocity distribution function at the mesoscopic level.
• Validating the GKS-coupled mesoscopic method using supersonic flat plate, hypersonic cone, and HIFiRE flight test cases.

Main Results:

• The GKS-coupled mesoscopic method demonstrated favorable agreement with experimental data across various test cases.
• The new approach captures a broader range of physical mechanisms compared to the conventional Godunov method.
• Computational results closely align with true physical phenomena, showing enhanced fidelity and accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The developed mesoscopic method offers a precise and rapid solution for predicting hypersonic boundary layer transition.
• This innovative approach meets the engineering demand for reliable tools in high-speed vehicle aerodynamic design.
• The method's enhanced predictive capability holds significant potential for practical engineering applications.