Numerical prediction of three-dimensional shock-induced turbulent flow separation surrounding bodies of revolution adjacent to a flat surface

¹ Ramgen Power Systems, LLC. Bellevue WA, USA
² Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk, Russia

Abstract

Numerical predictions of complex three-dimensional (3D) shock wave / turbulent boundary layer interactions (SWTBLI) are presented. The configuration studied is a set of two identical cylindrical bodies with conically shaped noses aligned parallel to a Mach 4 stream, adjacent to a flat plate. A series of distances between the bodies are analyzed to test ability of the numerical algorithms employed to capture complex 3D turbulent separation phenomena observed in experiments conducted at the Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. The numerical scheme employed solves the Reynolds Averaged Navier  Stokes (RANS) equations, and turbulence closure is provided by the low Reynolds number Spalart Allmaras one-equation model. Among other areas of concentration discussed herein are the properties of the computational grid required to capture the flow physics sufficiently to reproduce the complex boundary layer separation patterns. The value of point-enrichment type adaptation over block-enrichment is demonstrated, and the shock capturing properties of 2nd order central and upwind discretization schemes are compared.