Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Committee Chair
Abdelkader Frendi
Committee Member
Sarma Rani
Committee Member
Sivaguru S. Ravindran
Research Advisor
Abdelkader Frendi
Subject(s)
Turbulence--Mathematical models, Supersonic aerodynamics, Computational fluid dynamics
Abstract
The Blended Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes (BPANS) turbulence model was used to simulate complex turbulent compressible flows seen in supersonic retropropulsion (SRP). The model was incorporated in the OpenFOAM solver sonicFoam to investigate SRP flows in Earth and Martian atmospheres. The new sonicFoam with BPANS was first tested for subsonic flows using the shear flow benchmark case of flow around a cylinder. Results show good agreement of velocity profiles with experimental values. SonicFoam was then validated for compressible flows using an experimental SRP configuration. Pressure coefficient distribution along the forebody and aft body of the geometry show good agreement with experimental results. The key geometric flow features observed experimentally were accurately reproduced. Under Martian conditions, matching the experimental nozzle exit conditions decreased the pressure coefficients and increased the size of key geometric flow features. When matching the experimental thrust coefficient, an increase in pressure coefficients along the geometry and a decrease in size of key flow features was obtained.
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Rebecca, "Application of a scale-resolving turbulence model to supersonic retropropulsion flows in Earth and Martian atmospheres" (2026). Theses. 811.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/811