Comparison of the Calculated Results for Hypersonic Flow Past Blunt Bodies with the OREX Flight Test Data

Abstract

The physico-chemical hypersonic air flow model is verified for the conditions of the experimental vehicle OREX reentry path over the altitude range H = 84 –105 km. The calculations are performed on the basis of both the viscous shock layer equations and the complete system of Navier-Stokes equations. The temperature and chemical component concentration fields calculated within the framework of the two models are in good agreement for H ≤ 100 km (Re∞ ≥ 300). The numerical results for the heat flux at the stagnation point and the electron concentration agree well with the flight test data over the entire altitude range considered.