Dynamic molecular collision (DMC) model for rarefied gas flow simulations by the DSMC method

The Dynamic Molecular Collision (DMC) model is constructed for accurate and realistic simulations of rarefied gas flows of nonpolar diatomic molecules by the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. This model is applicable for moderate temperatures (up to a few hundred K for nitrogen), where most molecules are in the vibrational ground state and the vibrational degree of freedom can be neglected. In this range, moreover, the rotational energy can be considered as a continuous one. The collisions of diatomic molecules are simulated many times by the Molecular Dynamics (MD) method at various initial conditions. The site to site potential is used as an intermolecular one. The collision cross section is developed from the database obtained by MD simulation and kinetic theory of viscosity coefficient of diatomic molecules. The probability density function of energy after collision is also developed using the database. In order to verify the DMC model, two flow fields are simulated. First, the DMC model is applied to the simulation of the translational and rotational energy distribution at the equilibrium condition and the results are compared with the Maxwell distribution. The results agree very well with each other. Second, the DMC model is applied to the simulation of the rotational relaxation through low and high Mach number normal shock wave. These results also agree very well with the experimental results of Robben and Talbot, although the upstream rotational temperature is a little lower. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-6631(99)02607-0].