Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Journal of Technology in Aerospace Engineering

Simulation of the Flow Field of Rarefied Gas on a Flat Plate in Steady and Unsteady Conditions by the DSMC Method

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
parisa jafari 1
Ramin Zakeri 2
1 M. Sc. Student, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Semnan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood University of Technology, Semnan, Iran
10.22034/jtae.2025.9.3.3
Abstract
The rarefied gas flow field around a flat plate was numerically simulated under extreme non-equilibrium conditions using the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, considering low flow density, large angles of attack, and inherent unsteadiness. Accurately determining aerodynamic forces, particularly the drag coefficient, is critical in spaceflight scenarios, where continuum-based solvers often fail due to their underlying assumptions. The DSMC method, by contrast, offers a practical and reliable alternative. Drag behavior was evaluated across a range of velocities and angles of attack, and the numerical results were validated against established reference data, demonstrating strong agreement. To extend the findings, the influence of velocity and angle of attack was further analyzed under both steady and unsteady flow regimes. The simulation framework was adapted to capture transient variations in flow properties over time. Under steady-state conditions, increasing the flow velocity from 500 to 2000 m/s resulted in a fivefold increase in the drag coefficient at the leading edge. In unsteady flows, however, increasing the angle of attack from 0° to 16° resulted in a threefold reduction in drag and a twofold decrease in heat transfer.
Keywords
rarefied Gas Flow
Monte Carlo Direct Simulation
Flat Plate
Heat Transfer
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 27 February 2024
  • Revise Date 26 June 2024
  • Accept Date 29 June 2024
  • First Publish Date 24 August 2024