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Investigation of hypersonic boundary layer stability �for a flat plate with sharp and blunt leading edge�4th SU2 Conference, Varenna/Italy: 23 – 25 October 2023

Urvi Sanjiv Mehta and Jayahar Sivasubramanian

Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, India

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Outline

  • Introduction
  • Linear Stability theory
  • Factors affecting transition
  • Objective
  • Methods and methodology
  • Solver Setup
  • Results: Contours and Profiles
  • Eigen Value Spectrum
  • Future work
  • Conclusion
  • References

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Introduction

Boundary Layer is the characteristic property of Viscous flow and the type of boundary layer observed- Laminar or Turbulent depends mainly on the Reynolds' number. Due to the variation of Reynolds’ number along the length of the boundary layer, transition from laminar to turbulence is observed.

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Figure 1: Receptivity Analysis

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Linear Stability Theory

Linear Stability Theory

  • The laminar flow is acted on by some disturbances which can arise from the entrance, wall roughness etc. The nature of the flow depends on whether the disturbances die away or grow in time.
  • If the disturbances die away, the laminar flow is said to be stable, and if they grow in time the laminar flow is unstable and the transition takes place.
  • The basic idea of stability theory is that the laminar flow becomes unstable above a certain limit(namely the indifference Reynolds’ number) and becomes turbulent flow.

Principles:

  • Equilibrium Flow:
  • Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions:
  • Small Perturbations:
  • Linearized Equations:

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Linear Stability Theory

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The instability region increases as the Reynolds number decreases or as viscosity increases. The analysis of stability of hypersonic boundary layers is challenging due to it being characterized with many types of instability;

  • First mode instability
  • Second mode instability
  • Gortler instability (curvature effects)
  • Crossflow instability (3D effects)

The second mode instability is the most amplified in hypersonic BLs and it is recognized to be the dominant mode which induces transition in hypersonic BL. This project’s focus revolves around capturing the dominant second mode as the first mode is least amplified or absent in 2D boundary layers.

Figure 2: Instability

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Factors Affecting Transition

  • Free stream turbulence
  • Pressure gradient
  • Reynolds number
  • Mach number
  • Acoustic radiation
  • Surface roughness
  • Surface temperature
  • Surface curvature

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Objective

  • To perform numerical simulations with varying leading edge bluntness to obtain the mean flow field.
  • To investigate the flow features near the leading edge and assess their impact on boundary layer stability.
  • To conduct stability analysis and generate the eigen value spectrum and analyse the critical parameters (Mach number, Reynolds number) affecting the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in hypersonic boundary layers and assess how leading-edge bluntness influences these parameters.

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Methods and Methodology

  • Pointwise (Meshing Software)
  • Stanford University Unstructured (SU2-CFD Solver)
  • Python and Fortran (Stability Code)
  • Tecplot (Post processing)

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SU2: Solver Setup and Flow Conditions:

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The base flow laminar simulations are carried out in Stanford University Unstructured SU2.

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Mesh: Sharp Leading Edge and Boundary Conditions

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Figure 3: Generated Mesh

Figure 4: Colour Coded Boundary Condition

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Mesh: Blunt Leading Edge

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Figure 5: Generated Mesh

Figure 6: Magnified

Generated Mesh

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Boundary Conditions

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Figure 7: Colour Coded Boundary Condition

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Contours: Mach Number

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Figure 9: Blunt Leading edge

(6e-5 m)

Figure 10: Blunt Leading edge

(1e-3 m)

Figure 8: Sharp Leading edge

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Contours: Density

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Figure 11: Sharp Leading edge

Figure 12: Blunt Leading edge

(6e-5 m)

Figure 13: Blunt Leading edge

(1e-3 m)

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Contours: Temperature

Figure 16: Blunt Leading edge

(1e-3 m)

Figure 15: Blunt Leading edge

(6e-5 m)

Figure 14: Sharp Leading edge

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Velocity Profiles:

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Figure 17: Validation of velocity profiles at x=0.1 m

Figure 18: Validation of velocity profiles at x=0.3 m

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Temperature Profiles:

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Figure 19: Validation of temperature profiles at x=0.1 m

Figure 20: Validation of temperature profiles at x=0.3 m

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Velocity Profiles: Effect of leading edge radius

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The boundary layer profile is extracted at point 0.1 m from the leading edge.

Figure 21: y vs U/Ue

Figure 22: Magnified y vs U/Ue

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Temperature Profiles: Effect of leading edge radius

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The boundary layer profile is extracted at point 0.1 m from the leading edge.

Figure 24: Magnified y vs T/Te

Figure 23: y vs T/Te

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Velocity Profiles: Effect of leading edge radius

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The boundary layer profile is extracted at point 0.3 m from the leading edge.

Figure 25: y vs U/Ue

Figure 26: Magnified y vs U/Ue

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Temperature Profiles: Effect of leading edge radius

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The boundary layer profile is extracted at point 0.3 m from the leading edge.

Figure 28: Magnified y vs T/Te

Figure 27: y vs T/Te

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Velocity Profiles: Sharp and Blunt leading edge

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The boundary layer profile is extracted from the leading edge.

Figure 29: y vs U/Ue at 0.1 m

Figure 30: Magnified y vs U/Ue at 0.3 m

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Velocity Profiles: Sharp and Blunt leading edge

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The boundary layer profile is extracted from the leading edge.

Figure 31: y vs U/Ue at 0.1 m

Figure 32: Magnified y vs U/Ue at 0.3 m

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Eigen Value Spectrum:

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The velocity profiles extracted are fed into the Python code, and the input files for LST are obtained. The output of the LST solver is the Eigen value spectrum of the complex streamwise wavenumber. The spectrum represents the values of the streamwise wavenumber of all the possible disturbances or perturbations in the boundary layer. The spectrum is comprised of continuous and discrete spectra. The discrete spectra are the cause of instability in the BL. It is also unnecessary that all discrete spectra will cause instability in BL. If the complex component of the wavenumber of the discrete spectra is negative, such waves are called amplified waves, which induce instability in the BL.

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Eigen Value Spectrum: Sharp Leading Edge

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Figure 33: Spectra with no unstable discrete mode CASE A

Figure 34: Spectra with second mode unstable discrete mode CASE B

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Eigen Value Spectrum: Blunt Leading Edge

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Figure 35: Spectra with no unstable discrete mode

Figure 36: Spectra with an unstable discrete mode

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Future Work

  • Neutral stability Diagram
  • Study of Nonlinear Regime
  • Effect of 3D perturbations on the boundary layer

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Conclusions

  • Stability characteristics are highly sensitive to the base flow boundary layer profiles.
  • The transition location moves downstream with increase in bluntness indicating its stabilizing effect as predicted.
  • SU2 proved to be a right choice of software as it produced BL profiles with high accuracy to match the literature.
  • Small leading edge radius is favorable for hypersonic vehicles by both aerodynamic and stability analysis.

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References

  • Thomas D. Economon., Francisco Palacios., Sean R. Copeland., Trent W. Lukaczyk., A Juan J. Alonso., “SU2: An Open-Source Suite for Multiphysics Simulation and Design,” AIAA Journal Vol. 54, No. 3, March 2016, pp. 828-846.
  • Ankit Bajpai and Gopalan Jagdeesh, Investigation of Natural Transition on a sharp leading edge flat plate in a hypersonic shock tunnel, AIAA ISPHSTC, May 2023.
  • Thummar, M., Bhoraniya, R., Kant, R. et al. Stability and receptivity analysis of flat-plate boundary layer with suction and blowing. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 45, 415 (2023).
  • Tumin, A., 2007. Three-dimensional spatial normal modes in compressible boundary layers. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 586, pp.295-322.
  • Sivasubramanian, J. and Fasel, H.F., 2015. Direct numerical simulation of transition in a sharp cone boundary layer at Mach 6: fundamental breakdown. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 768, pp.175-218.
  • Mack, L.M., 1984. Boundary-layer linear stability theory. California Inst of Tech Pasadena Jet Propulsion Lab.
  • Alexander V, Fedorov, Prediction and Control of Laminar-turbulent Transition in
  • High-speed Boundary-Layer Flows, Procedia IUTAM, Volume 14,2015, ISSN 2210.

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THANK YOU!

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Urvi Mehta

urvimehta1504@gmail.com