Analyzing particulate behavior in high-speed, high-altitude conditions through an overlay-based computational approach

This paper presents an overlay-based one-way coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian computational approach designed to investigate the dynamics of particulate phases in extreme high-speed, high-altitude flight conditions characterized by very low particulate mass loading. Utilizing the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method to generate accurate gas flow fields, this study explores two canonical hypersonic flow systems. First we focus on the hypersonic flow over a sphere-cone, revealing the formation of dust-free zones for small particulate diameters and describing the particulate interaction with gas shocks. As particulate diameter and flight speed increase, the characteristics of the particulate phase evolve, leading to the emergence of distinctive features such as high particulate concentration bands or regions void of particulates. Subsequently, the investigation considers flow over a double-cone, emphasizing the behavior of particulate phases in separated vortex-dominated systems where particulate-inertia-driven interactions with vortices result in unique particulate-free zones in the vicinity of the primary and secondary vortices. Additionally, the paper addresses the importance of using realistic fractal-like particulate shapes and demonstrates that the shape effect tends to decelerate the fractal aggregates and trap them along the boundaries of the primary vortex. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of particulate phase dynamics in extreme flight conditions, offering insights relevant to aerospace and aerodynamic applications.