Numerical Simulation of Aerodynamic Heating over Solid Blunt Configuration with Porous Spike

Abstract

The use of high-permeability porous material to control supersonic flow around a bluff body is a new concept. To obtain an insight into the role of porous spike with regard to its aerodynamic controlling effect, two-dimensional numerical results for supersonic flow around a blunt solid configuration with foam porous spike are presented in this paper. The compressible, axisymmetric governing equations for both the porous and nonporous regions were integrated based on the single-domain approach at the continuum scale. Transient fluid-thermal coupled analysis was conducted for both porous and solid spiked configurations with optimized spike shape at Mach 5. flight condition. Results show that there exists a recirculation zone within the porous spike, whereas the size and vortex rotating intensity of the recirculation zone is attenuated compared with the solid one. During the coupling period, the blunt body with porous spike yielded a better aerodynamic thermal performance in terms of slower thermal response. Moreover, it shows that thermal evolution within the porous spike exerts considerable influence on the temperature field of a frontal flow field, which further affects the aerodynamic drag force acted on the forebody surface. A maximum drop of approximately 15% of peak pressure coefficient was achieved for the porous spiked body compared with the solid one in the range of simulation time. These results reveal the combined role of porous spike in redistributing and aerodynamically heating the incoming airflow, which results in both lower drag and aerodynamic heating level.