Visualization of Unsteady Three-Dimensional Flow Field in Supersonic Cavity Using LES

Abstract

Large eddy simulation (LES) has been applied to an unsteady three-dimensional flow field in a supersonic cavity with a length-to-depth ratio of 2. The filtered Navier-Stokes equations with a subgrid-scale model of Smagorinsky are solved by an unfactored implicit upwind relaxation scheme based on a TVD formulation with the Roe's approximate Riemann solver. The pressure and velocity vector fields, the shear layer separating from the leading edge of the cavity, and the propagation of the compression and expansion waves in the cavity were visualized to investigate mechanism of self-sustained flow oscillations in the supersonic cavity.