Gas-Kinetic Scheme Coupled with Turbulent Kinetic Energy Equation for Computing Hypersonic Turbulent and Transitional Flows

Abstract

ABSTRACT For simulation of hypersonic turbulent and transitional flows at high Reynolds numbers, a gas-kinetic scheme (GKS) strongly coupled with the turbulent kinetic energy equation in shear stress transport (SST) k−ω turbulence model is developed. To extend the current method to transitional flows, Langtry-Menter transition model is added together with SST k−ω turbulence model. Comparisons among the numerical solutions from current GKS method coupled with turbulent kinetic energy equation, GKS method uncoupled with turbulent kinetic energy equation, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solutions with turbulence/transition models, and experimental data are conducted. It is concluded that the current method can significantly improve the accuracy of numerical results.