Multiscale modelling and simulation of coexisting turbulent and rarefied gas flows

Simulating complex gas flows from turbulent to rarefied regimes is a long-standing challenge, since turbulence and rarefied flow represent contrasting extremes of computational aerodynamics. We propose a multiscale method to bridge this gap. Our method builds upon the general synthetic iterative scheme for the mesoscopic Boltzmann equation, and integrates the k–ω model in the macroscopic synthetic equation to address turbulent effects. Asymptotic analysis and numerical simulations show that the macroscopic–mesoscopic coupling adaptively selects the turbulence model and the laminar Boltzmann equation. The multiscale method is then applied to opposing jet problems in hypersonic flight surrounding by rarefied gas flows, showing that the turbulence could cause significant effects on the surface heat flux, which cannot be captured by the turbulent model nor the laminar Boltzmann solution alone. This study provides a viable framework for advancing understanding of the interaction between turbulent and rarefied gas flows. © The Author(s), 2024.