Comparative study of surface pressure fluctuations over bulbous heat shield at Mach number \(=0.95\) (Q5942608)

A finite volume approximation of compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations is used to compute the turbulent flow over a bulbuos payload shroud of a satellite launch vehicle at a freestream Mach number of 0.95 and at zero angle of attack. A classical Runge-Kutta method is employed for the time advancement while the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model is used to close the equations. Numerical results are thoroughly compared to experimental data.