Numerical simulation of hypersonic flow over highly blunted cones with spike

In this paper, effectiveness of aerodisk/aerospike assemblies as retractable drag-reduction devices for large-angle blunt cones flying at hypersonic Mach numbers is simulated numerically at various angles of attack. Different lengths of spike have been chosen to investigate the effect of the aerospike on the surrounding flowfield of nose cone. The compressible, 3-D full Navier-Stokes equations are solved with k - omega (SST) turbulence model for free stream Mach number of 5.75 and different angles of attack namely 3, 7, 10, and 12. The visualized shock structure and the computed drag on the blunt cone with aerospike agree well with the experimental result. The effect of reattachment of point on the surface convective heat-load reduction is investigated for different kind of spikes with varying length to diameter ratio. Additional modifications to the tip of the spike are examined in order to obtain different bow shocks, including a cut spike, and a flat and hemispherical aerodisk mounted on the tip of the spike. The numerical results presented the pressure distributions and the surface heat reduction for different type of spike. Some discrepancies existed, especially on the length of the recirculation region. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.