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Characteristics of the Shuttle Orbiter Leeside Flow During A Reentry Condition

20191 min read79 words
Kleb, William L. and Weilmuenster, K. James
Langley Research Center

A study of the leeside flow characteristics of the Shuttle Orbiter is presented for a reentry flight condition. The flow is computed using a point-implicit, finite-volume scheme known as the Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA). LAURA is a second-order accurate, laminar Navier-Stokes solver, incorporating finite-rate chemistry with a radiative equilibrium wall temperature distribution and finite-rate wall catalysis. The resulting computational solution is analyzed in terms of salient flow features and the surface quantities are compared with flight data.


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