EFFECTS OF STEP POSITION ON THE AERODYNAMIC SURFACE QUANTITIES OF A RAREFIED HYPERSONIC FLOW OVER FORWARD-FACING STEPS

Resumo

This work describes a computational analysis of a non-reacting hypersonic flow in thermal
non-equilibrium over forward-facing steps at zero-degree angle of attack. Effects on the aerodynamic
surface quantities due to changes on the step position have been investigated by employing the Direct
Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. The work focuses the attention of designers of hypersonic

configurations on the fundamental parameter of surface discontinuity, which can have an important im-
pact on even initial design. Results highlight the sensitivity of the heat transfer, pressure, and skin friction

coefficients due to changes on the step position for forward-facing step with different step height. The
analysis showed that the upstream disturbance in the step configuration decreased with increasing the

step position and increased with increasing the frontal-face height. In addition, it was found that pres-
sure and heating loads decreased with increasing the step position and increased with increasing the step

frontal face height.