Numerical Investigation of a Cylinder Immersed in a Supersonic Boundary Layer

Detached-eddy simulations have been carried out for flow past a circular cylinder in close proximity to a planar wall within a supersonic boundary layer. Four gap heights and two rod diameters with a boundary-layer-to-rod-diameter ratio less than unity were considered for the investigation. The focus. of the effort was on the behavior of the flow in the cylinder wake and its interaction with the flat plate boundary layer. The present work reveals a strong effect of the gap ratio and rod diameter on the behavior of this interaction. The investigation indicates strong von Karman-type vortex shedding exists only when the cylinder is placed in close proximity to the wall. The results further illustrate the forward stagnation point moves from the upper to lower quadrant of the cylinder as the gap height is increased, resulting in a significant separated boundary layer on the floor aft of the cylinder.