Evaluation of Wall Modeling Approaches for Transition of Hypersonic Boundary Layers

A simulation of a Mach 6.0, cold wall turbulent spot on a flat-plate is performed using two different modeling approaches: 1) wall-resolved large eddy simulation (WRLES), and 2) wall-modeled large eddy simulation (WMLES) using an equilibrium wall model (EQWM) for the turbulent region combined with a transition sensor and laminar EQWM for the laminar region. It has been found that the use of WMLES causes the lateral spreading of the turbulent spot to increase compared to the WRLES due to the imposed over predicted wall shear stress and heat fluxes at the wall. Additionally, the near-wall treatment of the dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid scale model for WMLES is explored. The development of the turbulent spot is reasonably similar between the use of a one-sided filter and no SGS model at the first-cell off of the wall, with small differences in the elongation of the turbulent spot.