Numerical Simulation of Pressure Fluctuation near an Expansion Corner in a Supersonic Flow of M = 3.01

The influence of the expansion corner on pressure fluctuation is an important subject in supersonic flow around high-speed vehicles. Past studies have clarified how the expansion corner alters the root-mean-square of the fluctuating pressure coefficient (Cprms) and the power spectral density (PSD) without considering how these fluctuating properties are related to compressible waves. In this paper, we use characteristics to determine the direction of wave propagation and identified three zones—U-zone, M-zone and D-zone—within which both Cprms and PSD are likely to display different behaviors across the boundary layer. The U-zone is upstream of the characteristic line of the second family and passing through the corner. The D-zone is downstream of the characteristic line of the first family and passing through the corner. The middle zone lies between the U-zone and D-zone. The results of Cprms and PSD at different layers within the boundary layer are obtained using numerical computation through a Detached Eddy Simulation (DES). It is found that in the U-zone and D-zone, both Cprms and PSD are the same in different layers within the boundary layer. In the M-zone, however, both Cprms and PSD may vary in different layers and this variation occurs in the high-frequency band upstream of the corner and mid-frequency band downstream of the corner. A feedback mechanism is tentatively used to explain the difference of spatial distribution of fluctuation properties inside the M-zone.