Code verification and numerical error estimation for use in model validation of laminar, hypersonic double-cone flows

Abstract

This is the first of three related papers focused on verifying and validating a CFD model for hypersonic flows. In this paper we present verification evidence to support the accuracy of the code to simulate laminar, hypersonic double-cone flows. This is done first by developing and implementing several code verification tests to isolate several code features and assess convergence towards an exact solution. The second kind of evidence is based on numerical error estimation from validation cases using axisymmetric geometries and free stream conditions from experiments. Herewe show that our code is able to compute surface heat flux and pressure with accuracy that is quantifiable and therefore can be included in validation comparisons. The second paper investigates whether the model can accurately simulate laminar hypersonic flow experiments of flows over double cones, conducted in CUBRC’s LENS-I and LENS-XX windtunnels. The third paper pursues whether amis-specification of the inflow boundary conditions may be responsible for the failure of the LENS-XX comparisons, using an inverse problem for the inflow, conditioned on measurements in the bulk flow and on the surface of the test article.