An integrated approach to solving the problem of high-speed flow around a body in a pulsed aerodynamic facility, and validation of the obtained results

In this paper, an integrated solution to the problem of the supersonic flow of working gas around a body fixed in the test section of the pulsed aerodynamic facility is presented. The use of both experimental and theoretical approaches yields more complete and detailed description of the studied process.
The physical and mathematical modeling of the cone-shaped model with a semi-vertex angle of 15 degrees was carried out.
In the experiments, the static pressure values at two points on the body surface, the aerodynamic drag force coefficient, and the Mach number in the oncoming flow were obtained. A high-speed video camera was used to visualize the flow patterns. Mathematical description of the process was based on the system of Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The SST model was used to simulate the turbulence. The stated problem was solved by the finite element method.
According to the data of the work, a good qualitative agreement between numerical calculations and experimental results was obtained when comparing visualization of the flow patterns with distribution of the gas-dynamic characteristics. A quantitative comparison of the calculated and experimentally obtained values of the flow velocities in terms of the Mach numbers and the values of aerodynamic drag coefficient yields a discrepancy of 3% and 7%, respectively. The reliable mathematical realization in combination with experimental base makes it possible to study the gas-dynamic processes that occur at high-speed flows in conditions that are different from normal atmospheric conditions.