Direct numerical study of hypersonic flow about a swept parabolic body

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of hypersonic flow about a swept parabolic body have been performed to study the global stability of flow in the leading-edge region of a swept blunt body. Previous stability investigations have been based on local models but have not fully succeeded in reproducing the established experimental findings. The current flow configuration represents a more realistic model and is thus expected to resolve some of the remaining questions. However, novel approaches like DNS-based global stability theory are necessary for such flow models and are employed in this study. As a result, boundary-layer modes have been identified by different but complementary techniques as the dominant instability mechanism. The DNS starting with small-amplitude white noise provide further evidence for the presence of non-modal effects which may be important in the subcritical regime. From a methodological point of view, the potential for quantitative flow analysis by combining numerical simulations with advanced iterative techniques represents a promising direction for investigating the governing physical processes of complex flows. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.