Computational fluid dynamics methods for hypersonic flow around blunted-cone-cylinder-flare

This paper presents an investigation of numerical schemes for the hypersonic flow around a blunted-cone–cylinder–flare (HB-2). The investigation is based on a finite volume computational fluid dynamics code using the Harten–Lax–vanLeer–contact Riemann solver in conjunction with four numerical reconstruction schemes with order of accuracy ranging from second–ninth order. Comparisons are presented with experimental data for the pressure and heat transfer. The results show that very-high-order schemes such as weighted essentially nonoscillatory fifth- and ninth-order methods may provide slightly better results for freestream Mach numbers less than 10; however, there are no obvious benefits over second-order methods for Mach numbers greater than 10.