An improved local correlation-based intermittency transition model appropriate for high-speed flow heat transfer

Abstract

An improved local correlation-based intermittency transition model is developed for high-speed flow heat transfer in this paper. Based on the intermittency transition model, two improvements have been proposed. One is introducing a new correlation of the momentum thickness Reynolds number for high-speed boundary layer into the transition onset function. In this new correlation, the free stream Mach number and the free stream Reynolds number are used to reflect the compressible effects. The other improvement is the modification of the intermittency factor transport equation to include physical information regarding the transition processes. Several test cases containing supersonic and hypersonic flat plates, a slender cone at different Reynolds numbers, the X-51A forebody, and the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator are conducted to assess the applicability of the improved intermittency transition model. The numerical results show the ability of the improved model to describe the high-speed boundary layer transition processes. However, further research is needed to reproduce the overshoot phenomena and verify the capacity of the improved model on complex cases.