Detached-Eddy Simulations of Hypersonic Capsule Wake Flow

Abstract

Numerical simulations are performed on a spherical capsule model based on the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and compared to experimental data obtained at the Calspan University of Buffalo Research Center. The flow is at Mach 6.4, and a case with an angle of attack of 28 deg is considered. The interest is in predictions of afterbody heating in the presence of massive separation and the resultant highly unsteady wake flow. Detached-eddy simulations of this flowfield are done using several flux schemes, and the effect of mesh refinement is considered. The results are compared to experimental data for mean and fluctuating heat transfer in the separated portion of the afterbody. Comparisons of instantaneous flow features are presented to illustrate varying levels of resolved scales.