Coupled DSMC-PMC Radiation Simulations of a Hypersonic Reentry

During extreme-Mach-number reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, spacecraft experience hypersonic non-equilibrium flow conditions that dissociate molecules and ionize atoms. Since the electronic levels of atomic species are strongly excited for high-Mach-number conditions, the radiative contribution to t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of thermophysics and heat transfer 2012-01, Vol.26 (1), p.22-35
Main Authors: Sohn, I, Li, Z, Levin, D. A, Modest, M. F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric entry
Atomic properties
Computer simulation
Continuum flow
Coupling
Coupling (molecular)
Direct simulation Monte Carlo method
Electronics
Enthalpy
Extreme values
Gas-surface interactions
Heat flux
Heat transfer
High Mach number
Hypersonic flow
Hypersonic reentry
Joining
Monte Carlo methods
Nonequilibrium flow
Radiation
Radiation effects
Reentry
Simulation
Transport
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Summary:During extreme-Mach-number reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, spacecraft experience hypersonic non-equilibrium flow conditions that dissociate molecules and ionize atoms. Since the electronic levels of atomic species are strongly excited for high-Mach-number conditions, the radiative contribution to the total heat load can be significant. To perform accurate and efficient analyses of chemically reacting flowfield—radiation interactions, the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) and the photon Monte Carlo (PMC) radiative transport methods are used to simulate flowfield—radiation coupling from transitional to peak heating freestream conditions. The first DSMC— finite-volume PMC simulations are presented with the goal of understanding the effect of radiation on the flow structure for different degrees of hypersonic nonequilibrium. It is found that, except for the highest altitudes, the coupling of radiation influences the flowfield, leading to a decrease in both heavy particle translational and internal temperatures and a decrease in the convective heat flux to the body. The DSMC—PMC coupled simulations are compared with the previous coupled simulations and correlations obtained using continuum flow modeling and one-dimensional radiative transport. The DSMC simulations are also extended to consider the effect of gas-surface interactions on the convective heat flux.
ISSN:0887-8722
1533-6808
DOI:10.2514/1.T3633