Numerical simulation of supersonic flow over a three-dimensional cavity

TLDR

The study presents a numerical solution for unsteady flow over a 3‑D cavity at Mach 1.5 and Re 1.09×10⁶. The authors solve the time‑dependent compressible 3‑D RANS equations with an algebraic turbulence closure and compare mean static pressure, acoustic pressure levels, and frequency spectra to experimental data. The simulation reveals the flowfield structure and confirms that the unsteady behavior is essentially two‑dimensional.

Abstract

A numerical solution is presented for the unsteady flow over a three-dimensio nal cavity at a freestream Mach number of 1.5 and Reynolds number of 1.09 x 10 6. The self-sustained oscillatory motion within the cavity is generated numerically by integration of the time-dependent compressible three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Effects of fine-scale turbulence are simulated via a simple algebraic closure model. Details of the flowfield structure are elucidated, and it is verified that the fundamental behavior of the unsteady phenomena is two dimensional. Comparison with experimental data is made in terms of the mean static pressure and overall acoustic sound pressure levels within the cavity, as well as with the acoustic frequency spectra of the oscillation along the cavity floor and rear bulkhead.