Large-eddy simulation of transitional boundary layer with impinging shock wave

The transition of a boundary layer on a flat plate with an impinging shock wave is studied numerically by compressible large-eddy simulation using a hybrid compact/Roe scheme. The numerical code is verified by comparison with experimental observations of shock wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction and then applied for the analysis of shock wave/transitional boundary-layer interaction. The simulation provides accurate results with respect to the location of reattachment and the boundary-layer properties downstream of reattachment. Large-scale coherent structures such as longitudinal vortex pairs, low-speed streaks, and hairpin vortices are identified in the transitional region, and it is revealed that these coherent structures play important roles in the transition. Thus, it is important to resolve these structures adequately to obtain an accurate prediction of the reattachment point. The subsequent breakdown of these coherent structures have smaller length scales, and resolving the breakdown requires much finer grid resolution. However, the influence of underresolution of breakdown on the downstream flowfield can be largely ignored under the conditions examined. Large-eddy simulation is, therefore, useful for the qualitative analysis of flowfields involving a supersonic transitional boundary layer. Copyright © 2005 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.