Gas-kinetic numerical studies of three-dimensional complex flows on spacecraft re-entry

作者：Li Zhi Hui^*; Zhang Han Xin

来源：Journal of Computational Physics, 2009, 228(4): 1116-1138.

DOI：10.1016/j.jcp.2008.10.013

• Kinetic theory of gases
• Velocity distribution function
• Boltzmann model equation
• Discrete velocity ordinate method
• Finite-difference computation
• Three-dimensional complex flow
• Spacecraft re-entry

The gas-kinetic numerical algorithm solving the Boltzmann model equation is extended and developed to study the three-dimensional hypersonic flows of spacecraft re-entry into the atmosphere in perfect gas. In this study, the simplified velocity distribution function equation for various flow regimes is presented on the basis of the kinetic Boltzmann-Shakhov model. The discrete velocity ordinate technique and numerical quadrature methods, Such as the Causs quadratUre formulas with the weight function 2/pi(1/2) exp(-V(2)) and the Gauss-Legendre numerical quadrature rule, are Studied to resolve the barrier in Simulating complex flows from low Mach numbers to hypersonic problems. Specially, the gas-kinetic finite-difference scheme is constructed for the Computation of three-dimensional flow problems, which directly captures the time evolution of the molecular velocity distribution function. The gas-kinetic boundary conditions and numerical procedures are studied and implemented by directly acting on the velocity distribution function. The HPF(high performance fortran) parallel implementation technique for the gas-kinetic numerical method is developed and applied to study the hypersonic flows around three-dimensional complex bodies. The main purpose of the current research is to provide a way to extend the gaskinetic numerical algorithm to the flow computation of three-dimensional complex hypersonic problems with high Mach numbers. To verify the current method and simulate gas transport phenomena covering various flow regimes, the three-dimensional hypersonic flows around sphere and spacecraft shape with different Knudsen numbers and Mach numbers are studied by HPF parallel computing. Excellent results have been obtained for all examples computed.

• 出版日期2009-3-1
• 单位中国空气动力研究与发展中心