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Postgraduate research project

Development of the state-to-state high-fidelity kinetic model for characterisation of the aerothermal environment in a hypersonic flow

Funding
Competition funded View fees and funding
Type of degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Entry requirements
1st class honours degree View full entry requirements
Faculty graduate school
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Closing date

About the project

This PhD project aims to develop the reduced state-to-state (StS) model for high-fidelity hypersonic aerothermodynamic simulations using machine learning methods.

The high-fidelity thermochemical nonequilibrium models from the microscopic calculations make it possible to accurately predict the shock standoff distance and nonequilibrium temperatures. The development of the high-fidelity thermochemical nonequilibrium models will enhance the space defence ability and improve the aerodynamic performance of hypersonic vehicles. Furthermore, it is important in the analysis of communication or radio blackout and TPS (Thermal Protection System) ablation.

Compared to traditional Park’s two-temperature model, the state-to-state (StS) model is a higher fidelity approach to describing the vibrational energy mode because it accounts the population of each vibrational state. Therefore, the vibrational state-specific model can prevent the non-physical vibrational temperature overshoot phenomenon, a well-known drawback of multi-temperature model.

In this project, the candidate will develop a high-fidelity 2D/2D axisymmetric StS CFD code by extending current in-house full thermos-chemical non-equilibrium CFD code, known as HANSA. The developed CFD code can be used for designing and optimising the geometry of a hypersonic vehicle.

Through this PhD project, the candidate will advance knowledge essential to improve the predictive capability for hypersonic flows in thermo-chemical nonequilibrium.

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