Numerical investigation of cross-flow separation in three-dimensional supersonic flows around circular cones

The problem of supersonic three-dimensional flow over sharp cones is solved using the system of Navier-Stokes equations in a locally conical approximation. Numerical solutions are found using an implicit finite-difference scheme with second-order exponential approximation of the equations with respect to the cross-flow coordinate. The appearance and development of cross-flow separation on the leeward side of the cones in a laminar regime of gas flow in the shock layer are investigated. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7842(98)00310-9].