Constrained large-eddy simulation of supersonic turbulent boundary layer over a compression ramp

ABSTRACT

A supersonic turbulent boundary layer over a compression ramp is numerically investigated using the constrained large-eddy simulation (CLES) method. The compression corner is characterised by a deflection angle of 24°. The free-stream Mach number is Ma_∞ = 2.9, and the Reynolds number based on the momentum thickness of inlet boundary layer is Re_θ = 2300. The mean and statistical quantities, such as mean velocity, wall pressure and Reynolds stresses, are thoroughly analysed and compared with those from traditional large-eddy simulation (LES), experimental measurement and direct numerical simulation (DNS). It turns out that CLES can predict the friction coefficient, wall-pressure distribution, size of separation bubble, Reynolds stresses, etc. more accurately than traditional LES, and the results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental and/or DNS data. Also discussed are the effects of specific parameterisations of the Reynolds constraint and interfacial positions separating the constrained and unconstrained regions on the performance of the CLES method.

KEYWORDS:

• Supersonic
• turbulent boundary layer
• compression ramp
• CLES
• LES

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Xinliang Li and S. Xu for helpful discussions on this work. Numerical simulations were carried out on the Tianhe-1A supercomputing facility at National Supercomputer Center in Tianjin, China.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The financial support was provided by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 11372007], [grant number 11521091], [grant number U1630138]; Challenge Program [grant number JCKY2016212A501]; and 973 Program [grant number 2013CB834100].