Hypersonic Flow Modeling

PSI has had a sustained history of creative hypersonic flow activities dating back to its formation in 1973. These activities have focused upon developing validated engineering models and associated computer codes to understand re-entry behavior with emphasis on boundary-layer transition, plasma sheathing, hard-body signatures and vehicle-wake observables. The simultaneous solution of complex turbulence physics and finite-rate chemical kinetics, while taking material ablation into account, makes these models unique. Recent applications of these tools include re-entry decelerator research, impact-generated fragment tumbling aerodynamics, vehicle-sensor flow-field characterization and evaluation of plasma-sheathing techniques.