Validation study of numerical simulations by comparison to measurements in piston-driven shock-tunnels

The simulation of high enthalpy flows, both experimentally and numerically, is a topic of international research efforts. It is important to understand and quantitatively describe the aerothermodynamic phenomena of high speed/high enthalpy flows in order to develop more capable reusable space transportation systems. A CFD-method is used here to model several piston driven shock tunnels used around the world to experimentally study re-entry and supersonic combustion phenomena. The results are compared to measured data (pressure and shock speed) of the various tunnels and shows that the approach is valid and is ideal for the development of new tunnel operating conditions and new tunnels. Using the numerical models, test facilities are compared to each other. For the medium enthalpy condition presented here, the tunnels produce similar test conditions, with the bigger ones having greater levels of nozzle supply pressure relative to the diaphragm rupture pressure, and greater test time.