HYPERSONIC FLOW IN CHEMICAL NONEQUILIBRIUM - A COMPARISON OF THIN-LAYER NAVIER-STOKES AND COUPLED EULER BOUNDARY-LAYER COMPUTATIONS

A comparison of the computed flowfields for viscous hypersonic flow in chemical non-equilibrium is presented. Two different approximations o f the aerothermochemistry equations have been considered: the thin-lay er Navier-Stokes equations and a second-order coupling of the Euler an d boundary layer equations. To avoid discrepancies arising from the ch oice of the physical and chemical models, the test case considered has been defined in a precise manner. In addition, close attention is pai d to the appropriate flowfield properties to be compared. The detailed agreement obtained in the computed solutions for hypersonic flow over a hyperboloid provides a verification of the accuracy of the numerica l methods employed.