Direct Simulations of Turbulent, Multiphysics Hypersonic Flows at Extreme Scale

At enthalpies of tens of MJ/kg, the fluid dynamics of high-speed flows past aerodynamically-shaped objects is characterized by shock-turbulence-material interactions with thermal and chemical non-equilibrium. We seek to understand the details of these interactions through the use of direct numerical simulations of the compressible turbulent reactive (possibly non-equilibrium) flow coupled with material response simulations of an adjacent structure. Our approach utilizes multiple domain-specific codes built for heterogeneous computing architectures that are coupled through a data exchange and time integration framework. The presentation will describe these tools and their results through application on key problems of interest, such as a Mach 6 flow interacting with a 35 degree compression ramp with an embedded compliant panel studied in NASA Langley's 20-inch tunnel and the non-equilibrium flow within UIUC's Plasmatron-X inductively coupled plasma torch and the response of an ablative material placed within it.