Parametric Study of Forward-Facing Steps in Hypersonic Flow Using STARCCM+

A parametric study investigating the effect of a forward-facing step discontinuity on a flat plate in hypersonic flow has been performed using the commercial STAR-CCM+ code to inform manufacturing defects for hypersonic vehicles. Mach number, step height, plate length (boundary layer development length), and free stream altitude were varied in a two-dimensional, ideal gas, steady simulation. A systematic dataset containing 500 unique cases were simulated, analyzed, and presented. Strategies for efficient computation of 2D hypersonic simulations using adaptive meshing are discussed. Results confirm that vertical steps which extend past 10% of the boundary layer height have a significant impact on pressure drag and local heating. Non-dimensional predictions for local impacts are presented. The influence of meshing, unsteadiness, the k-omega turbulence model, and shock wave-boundary layer interaction modeling on downstream effects is discussed.