Research on CFD/DSMC hybrid numerical method in rarefied flows

Based on the study on programming of CFD and DSMC method, a CFD/DSMC hybrid method is established employing MPC principle. A subrelax technique is adopted to deal with information exchange between CFD and DSMC. Flows around a blunt cone at variation Kn numbers are simulated by the CFD/DSMC hybrid method. Comparison of the calculation results with the related low density wind tunnel test data shows a coincidence between them, which means that the hybrid method is an effective method in lower Kn numbers. The errors are analyzed of the hybrid method. This work is hopeful of developing a useful tool to predict aerodynamic characteristics of hypersonic vehicles in transitional flows.