Centralized Gradient-Based Reconstruction for Wall Modelled Large Eddy Simulations of Hypersonic Boundary Layer Transition

TL;DR

This paper presents a new central Gradient-Based Reconstruction scheme for compressible Navier-Stokes equations, improving accuracy and robustness in wall-modeled large eddy simulations of hypersonic boundary layer transition.

Contribution

The study introduces a robust central GBR scheme leveraging characteristic space transformation, demonstrating its effectiveness in hypersonic flow simulations with reduced numerical dissipation.

Findings

Transformation to conservative variables yields more accurate results.

Centralized interpolation minimizes numerical dissipation effectively.

The method accurately captures complex flow dynamics in hypersonic boundary layers.

Abstract

In this study, we introduce a robust central Gradient-Based Reconstruction (GBR) scheme for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The method leverages transformation to characteristic space, allowing selective treatment of waves from the compressible Euler equations. By averaging left- and right-biased state interpolations, a central scheme is achieved for all but the acoustic waves, which require upwinding for stability. Distinct differences were observed between transformations using either primitive or conservative variables. We evaluated the method's robustness and superiority using benchmark problems, including the two-dimensional shock entropy problem, two-dimensional viscous shock tube, and three-dimensional inviscid Taylor-Green vortex. Subsequently, we assessed the method in the context of Wall Modelled Large Eddy Simulations (WMLES), where coarse grids are used to reduce computational cost but also introduce substantial numerical dissipation. Using WMLES, we simulated oblique shock impingement on a Mach 6 disturbed boundary layer and a Mach 7.7 flow over a $15^{\circ}$ compression ramp. Our findings reveal that: 1) transformation to characteristic space using conservative variables leads to more accurate results; 2) minimizing numerical dissipation through centralized interpolation is crucial. In the compression ramp case, boundary layer separation was shifted slightly upstream, and there was an over-prediction of wall heating, likely attributable to the equilibrium-assuming wall model. Overall, this work showcases the method's potential in accurately capturing complex flow dynamics with reduced numerical dissipation.