Project Summary

Title of Project:   Turbulence Model Calculations of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Flows Using the OVERFLOW code

Sponsor: NASA Johnson Space Center

Project PIs:    Gregory Blaisdell (PI), Anastasios Lyrintzis (co-PI)

Project goals and description of work:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate current turbulence models and to test new turbulence modeling ideas for shock boundary layer interactions using the OVERFLOW code.   The OVERFLOW code will be used because it is currently the dominant computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool for Space Shuttle ascent aerodynamics and it is being considered for future use in aerothermal analyses. We are evaluating the standard turbulence models currently available within OVERFLOW to determine their performance on a variety of high-speed boundary layer flows by comparing results with experimental data.  We will then determine the behavior of modifications to the near wall scaling and added compressibility corrections.  In addition we will examine available experimental data in order to discern whether compressibility effects on skin friction and heat transfer rates can be correlated with anisotropy of the Reynolds stresses.  The test cases to be considered will include simple boundary layer flows, shock-boundary layer interactions, and the Space Shuttle during ascent.