CFD contributions to high-speed shock-related problems

Summary

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) have extensively contributed to high-speed shock-wave shock wave research. With study examples by the author’s group in the past, effectiveness of CFD both for design of transportation vehicles and for understanding of fluid physics is discussed. Trend of CFD for further use is then discussed based on recent applications and three key features: computer progress, spectral-like high-resolution scheme and LES and LES/RANS hybrid method are focused. Recent CFD research reveals that high speed flows even the ones considered to be steady state have inherently unsteady nature that requires LES-like computations for successful simulations. Such simulations require remarkably higher grid resolution but emerging numerical techniques having spectral-like high-resolution would help reducing the number of grids required for such simulations. The paper is summarized by the address to the issues about future CFD.