Effect of Obstacle’s Length-to-Height Ratio on Aerodynamic Quantities of Rarefied Hypersonic Flow

Abstract

Abstract The DSMC method was used to calculate and analyse the flow field structure and the surface aerodynamic quantities when the hypersonic rarefied gas flow passing obstacle at a height of 70km. The changes of surface aerodynamic quantities such as skin friction coefficient, heat transfer coefficient, and pressure coefficient when the length-to-height ratio of the rectangular obstacle is 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 are analysed. The results show that under the above aspect ratio of the obstacle, a recirculation region is formed at each corner of the obstacle. A bow shock will be formed on the windward side of the obstacle, and with the increase of the obstacle’s height, the bow shock will be superimposed on the separated shock wave in front. A strong expansion wave will be formed on the backside of the obstacle, which affects the downstream flow field structure and aerodynamic quantities. When the obstacle’s height increases, the maximum value of the aerodynamic quantities on each surface of the obstacle will increase significantly. It is calculated that the quantities such as heat transfer coefficient and pressure coefficient reach the maximum at the convex point of the windward surface.