A genuinely three-dimensional Riemann solver based on self-similar variables in curvilinear coordinates

Abstract

A genuinely three-dimensional Riemann solver named MuSIC-3DC (Multidimensional, Self-similar, strongly-Interacting, Consistent, Three-dimensional, Curvilinear coordinates) in curvilinear coordinates is proposed to simulate three-dimensional complex engineering problems. Following Balsara's idea, a three-dimensional Riemann problem at each grid vertex is studied. In order to accurately capture contact discontinuities, the linear variations are assumed in the strongly-interacting zone. Also, the self-similar variables are adopted to simplify the derivation according to the self-similar evolution of the Riemann problem, and the strongly-interacting state could be determined by combining the contributions of all the two-dimensional Riemann problems at the surfaces bounded the strongly-interacting state. Besides, the one-dimensional Riemann problem at the center of each cell interface is solved by the one-dimensional HLLE scheme. After these, the numerical flux at each cell interface is obtained by assembling the three-dimensional fluxes at the vertices and the one-dimensional flux at the center of the cell interface. Several numerical test cases are simulated to validate the proposed solver. The spherical blast wave and three-dimensional Riemann problems indicate that the MuSIC-3DC scheme is capable of capturing three-dimensional self-similar flow structures accurately and suppressing the mesh imprinting phenomenon effectively. The transonic case demonstrates the MuSIC-3DC scheme's high resolution in capturing shock waves. In the hypersonic cases, the MuSIC-3DC scheme is more accurate in predicting stagnation and reattachment heating loads. Moreover, the MuSIC-3DC scheme is capable of obtaining more physical surface heating distribution by considering the information traveling both normal and transverse to the cell interfaces.