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A validation study of OpenFOAM using the supersonic flow in a mixed compression intake
Published in
2010
Volume: 224
   
Issue: 6
Pages: 673 - 679
Abstract
The study of high-speed flows is of great importance in the design and manufacture of aerospace vehicles, missiles, and rockets. The flow physics is complex and experimental investigations with full size prototypes are quite expensive. To study such complex flows, there is a need for a numerical test bench that is both robust and customizable. To this end, in this study, a systematic validation of the open source computational fluid dynamics software called OpenFOAM has been undertaken. Numerical simulations of the high-Mach-number supersonic flow in a mixed compression intake in nine different configurations have been carried out. The predictions are seen to compare well with the experimental data reported in the literature. Important features such as the location and strength of oblique shocks and expansion fans are predicted well. The shock-boundary layer interaction for subtle variations in geometric configurations could also be replicated as observed experimentally. The roll up of the boundary layer due to shock interaction over very small time instants could be easily captured, which would be difficult do accomplish experimentally. Although not all permutations and combinations of the parameters have been studied, with the limited study the power of the above mentioned open source software has been established.
About the journal
JournalProceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
ISSN09544100
Open AccessNo
Concepts (30)
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    Complex flow
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    COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS SOFTWARE
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    CUSTOMIZABLE
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    EXPANSION FANS
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    Experimental data
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    Experimental investigations
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    FLOW PHYSICS
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    Geometric configurations
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    HIGH SPEED FLOWS
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    Numerical simulation
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    Numerical tests
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    Open source software
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    Open sources
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    PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS
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    Shock interactions
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    SHOCK-BOUNDARY LAYER INTERACTIONS
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    Validation study
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    Aerospace vehicles
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    Computational fluid dynamics
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    Computer simulation
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    Computer software
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    FLUID DYNAMICS
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    FLUIDS
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    Hypersonic flow
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    Open systems
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    Plasmas
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    Speed
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    Supersonic aerodynamics
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    SUPERSONIC FLOW
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    ATMOSPHERIC BOUNDARY LAYER