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Comparative study of equilibrium and non-equilibrium predictions by different models for a hypersonic cone at high-altitude

Targeting a cone with the half-angle as 10-deg at M = 27 and H = 72 km, simulations were conducted comparatively to analyze the predictions by different equilibrium and non-equilibrium gas models. Following validation and grid studies, systematic comparisons on aerodynamic performance, flow structures, and characteristic distributions were performed. The key findings are: (1) While the overall flow structures are broadly similar, discrepancies exist in the features at the base locations, e.g., the diverse high-temperature distributions. Notably, the vibrational temperatures distribute differently under slip and non-slip boundary conditions near the wall; (2) The equilibrium gas model predicts higher drag coefficient, wall heat flux, and skin friction than those of non-equilibrium models. Predictions also vary among the non-equilibrium models themselves. Specifically, compared to the three-temperature model, the one- and two-temperature models predict larger drag coefficients with the relative difference exceeding 5%. Nevertheless, the results from the three-temperature model with and without slip conditions are largely consistent; (3) The disparities between equilibrium and non-equilibrium characteristics are primarily manifested in the shock layer and wake regions. Within these regions, the overall temperature for the equilibrium gas is lower than that for the non-equilibrium cases, while in the latter specific non-equilibrium features are distinctly exhibited, e.g., the translational-rotational temperature is generally higher than that from the one-temperature model, and the vibrational-electronic temperature shows the opposite trend. Notably, in the slip flow within the three-temperature model, the translational-rotational temperature is higher and, particularly, the vibrational temperature is even larger than counterparts of the non-slip flows near the wall and base center line.