Application of a Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Approach to Supersonic Retropropulsion Flowfields

作者：Korzun Ashley M^*; Braun Robert D

来源：Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2013, 50(5): 961-980.

DOI：10.2514/1.A32534

Systems analysis efforts have identified supersonic retropropulsion as a candidate decelerator technology for human exploration at Mars. These efforts are presently challenged by a lack of available models, including computational fluid dynamics analyses for databases representing the aerodynamic-propulsive interactions inherent to supersonic retropropulsion. This work presents an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes approach to predict the flowfield structure, surface pressure distributions, and integrated aerodynamic force coefficients for four configurations recently tested in the NASA Langley Research Center Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel. These configurations have zero, one, three, and four nozzles on the forebody. Comparisons were made with experimental data for pressure distributions on the forebody and aftbody, and computational schlieren images illustrating the resulting flowfields were also generated. The results of this work illustrate the applicability of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations to this problem through comparison with data from a test series designed explicitly for the validation of computational fluid dynamics tools in simulating supersonic retropropulsion flowfields. The approach performed well in predicting the surface pressure distribution and flowfield structure for supersonic retropropulsion configurations with different numbers of nozzles at angles of attack of 0 and 8 deg and a thrust coefficient of approximately 2.0.

• 出版日期2013-10