Effect of finite-rate catalysis on wall heat flux prediction in hypersonic flow

Abstract

Catalytic effects on a copper sphere impacted by a hypersonic flow at very high enthalpy and very low pressure conditions have been investigated by using both a classical multi-temperature model and a state-to-state approach considering three different recombination statistics of molecules: one reproducing the incoming distribution, one considering a uniform distribution, and the third populating only the highest vibrational level. Comparisons with experimental findings strongly suggest that, at the investigated flow and wall conditions, the use of a partial catalysis model is mandatory.