Simulation and Analysis of Protrusions on Flat Plate at Hypersonic Speeds

This paper presents investigation into the complex phenomena that occur in the vicinity of three dimensional forward facing steps mounted on a flat plate in hypersonic flow of Mach number 8. The dependence of the flow field on geometry parameters like height of protrusion and deflection angle is also studied. Vortices generated at the separation location seemed to wrap around the protuberance, causing high surface heating in the separated region, with the hotspot at the foot of the shock. For lower deflection angle model, the protuberance did not have much effect upstream, but turbulence was observed to the side of the protuberance. The flow remained more or less attached, suggesting nominal heating in the front of the protrusion. As the deflection angle increased, separation phenomena was more visible and hence the recirculation zone. For un-separated flow cases, the protrusion height had less effect on the surface heating. But when the flow was separated, the extent of flow separation region was large, indicating higher surface heating.