Accurate Computations of Arc-heater Flows Using Two-equation Turbulent Models

Abstract

A new time marching solver, ARCFLO4, has been developed to analyze the flows in arc heaters. Governing equations are the hyperbolic-type axisymmetric Navier–Stokes equations including Joule heating, radiation, and turbulence models. To investigate the effect of turbulence models, k–ε, k–ω, and k–ω SST turbulence models are introduced into ARCFLO4. Throughout vast numerical calculations of the Aerodynamic Heating Facility and the Interaction Heating Facility at the NASA Ames Research Center, the k–ε turbulence model combined with the three-band radiation model exhibited good agreement with experiment data. In addition, it is confirmed that the turbulence effect plays a significant role in determining arc-heater flow physics.