Direct Simulation Monte Carlo for Atmospheric Entry. 2. Code Development and Application Results

Abstract

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method (DSMC) has evolved over 40 years into a powerful numerical technique for the computation of complex, nonequilibrium gas flows. In this context, nonequilibrium means that the velocity distribution function is not in an equilibrium form due to a low number of intermolecular collisions within a fluid element. In atmospheric entry, nonequilibrium conditions occur at high altitude and in regions of flow fields with small length scales. In this second article of two parts, several different implementations of the DSMC technique in various, widely used codes are described. Validation of the DSMC technique for hypersonic flows using data measured in the laboratory is discussed. A review is then provided of the application of the DSMC technique to atmospheric entry flows. Illustrations of DSMC analyses are provided for slender and blunt body vehicles for entry into Earth, followed by examples of DSMC modeling of planetary entry flows.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA568175

Entities

People

  • Iain D. Boyd

Organizations

  • University of Michigan

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Blunt Bodies
  • Boundary Layer
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Flow Fields
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Gas Flow
  • High Altitude
  • Hypersonic Flow
  • Knudsen Number
  • Low Density
  • Mathematical Models
  • Mean Free Path
  • Measurement
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Physics Laboratories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Canadian European Scientific Immigration and Epilepsy Clearance Studies
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flight
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow