Describes the interaction between the fluid flow and the high temperature phenomena experienced in the hypersonic regime. Presents the principles of aerothermodynamics in nonequilibrium hypersonic flow regimes, covering theory, application and surface phenomena. Chapters 1 to 5 explain how to develop computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques for computing nonequilibrium, chemically reacting flows in the hypersonic regime. Chapters 6 to 8 examine the important physical phenomena that occur in hypersonic flows. The final chapter is devoted to the nonequilibrium kinetics at solid surfaces, which is useful in addressing the problems of the nonequilibrium gas-surface interactions that arise in hypersonic flight.

A modern treatment of hypersonic aerothermodynamics for students, engineers, scientists, and program managers involved in the study and application of hypersonic flight. It assumes an understanding of the basic principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, compressible flow, and heat transfer. Ten chapters address: general characterization of hypersonic flows; basic equations of motion; defining the aerothermodynamic environment; experimental measurements of hypersonic flows; stagnation-region flowfield; the pressure distribution; the boundary layer and convective heat transfer; aerodynamic forces and moments; viscous interactions; and aerothermodynamics and design considerations. Includes sample exercises and homework problems. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Hypersonic flight vehicles are a current topic of interest in both civilian and military research. NASA is currently designing a Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV) [44, 69] and Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) [32] to replace the space shuttle; reentry vehicles are, by definition, hypersonic vehicles. Military requirements for reconnaissance and surveillance, as well as the mission of the United States Air Force to rapidly project power globally makes the design of a hypersonic plane that can quickly traverse the globe very attractive [102]. The design of hypersonic vehicles requires accurate prediction of the surface properties while in flight. These quantities are typically the heat flux, pressure and shear stress, from which the aerodynamic forces and moments can be calculated. These variables govern not only the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle, but also determine the selection and sizing of the thermal protection system (TPS), which protects the vehicle from the extreme temperatures encountered at hypersonic velocities. The geometry of a vehicle, and in particular, the nose and the leading edges of wings and other aerodynamic surfaces, is a critical consideration in a vehicle's design. Aerodynamic heating is inversely proportional to the square root of the 1 radius at the stagnation point; hence, historically most vehicles have had blunted noses and leading edges to reduce the thermal loads to acceptable levels. Recently, however, a class of materials, designated Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic (UHTC) composites, has been developed that can withstand temperatures as high as 3500 K [57, 78]. Materials such as these allow the use of much sharper leading edges.

In this book selected aerothermodynamic design problems in hypersonic vehicles are treated. Where applicable, it emphasizes the fact that outer surfaces of hypersonic vehicles primarily are radiation-cooled, an interdisciplinary topic with many implications.

An attempt is made to reflect on current focuses in certain areas of hypersonic flow research by examining recent works and their issues. Aspects of viscous interaction, flow instability, and nonequilibrium aerothermodynamics pertaining to theoretical interest are focused upon. The field is a diverse one, and many exciting works may have either escaped the writer's notice or been abandoned for the sake of space. Students of hypersonic viscous flow must face the transition problems towards the two opposite ends of the Reynolds or Knudsen number range, which represents two regimes where unresolved fluid/gas dynamic problems abound. Central to the hypersonic flow studies is high-temperature physical gas dynamics; here, a number of issues on modelling the intermolecular potentials and inelastic collisions remain the obstacles to quantitative predictions. Research in combustion and scramjet propulsion will certainly be benefitted by advances in turbulent mixing and new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) strategies on multi-scaled complex reactions. Even for the sake of theoretical development, the lack of pertinent experimental data in the right energy and density ranges is believed to be among the major obstacles to progress in aerothermodynamic research for hypersonic flight. To enable laboratory simulation of nonequilibrium effects anticipated for transatmospheric flight, facilities capable of generating high enthalpy flow at density levels higher than in existing laboratories are needed (Hornung 1988). A new free-piston shock tunnel capable of realizing a test-section stagnation temperature of 10(exp 5) at Reynolds number 50 x 10(exp 6)/cm is being completed and preliminary tests has begun (H. Hornung et al. 1992). Another laboratory study worthy of note as well as theoretical support is the nonequilibrium flow experiment of iodine vapor which has low activation energies for vibrational excitation and dissociation, and can be studied in a laboratory with modest resou...

This book is a self-contained text for those students and readers interested in learning hypersonic flow and high-temperature gas dynamics. It assumes no prior familiarity with either subject on the part of the reader. If you have never studied hypersonic and/or high-temperature gas dynamics before, and if you have never worked extensively in the area, then this book is for you. On the other hand, if you have worked and/or are working in these areas, and you want a cohesive presentation of the fundamentals, a development of important theory and techniques, a discussion of the salient results with emphasis on the physical aspects, and a presentation of modern thinking in these areas, then this book is also for you. In other words, this book is designed for two roles: 1) as an effective classroom text that can be used with ease by the instructor, and understood with ease by the student; and 2) as a viable, professional working tool for engineers, scientists, and managers who have any contact in their jobs with hypersonic and/or high-temperature flow.