Research Highlights
Here is a summary of the research projects associated with my PhD work, as well as research projects I am undertaking on the side.
1. Hypersonic Blunt Body Aerodynamics
Study the laminar near-wake created on the aft-body of hypersonic blunt bodies and projectiles. For this project I use high-fidelity simulations using the OpenFOAM solver rhoCentralFoam. The objectives of this work are three-fold: (1) to improve and better the understanding of the underlying fluid mechanical mechanisms that lead to laminar near-wake separation. (2) To provide empirical observations to aid those doing similar work. (3) To extend these observations to applications such as atmospheric entry vehicle design.
Publications and Conferences
W. S, Hinman, C. T. Johansen (December 2015) “Interaction Theory of Hypersonic Laminar Near Wake Flow Behind an Adiabatic Circular Cylinder” (DOI: 10.1007/s00193-015-0615-y), Shock Waves, Springer
W. S. Hinman, C. T. Johansen, C. J. Arisman, W. C. Galuppo, (2014) “Numerical investigation of laminar near wake separation on circular cylinders at supersonic velocities”, 29th Congress of the International Council of Aeronautical Sciences, St. Petersburg Russia, September 7th-12th (international conference; paper+oral; PhD work)
W. S. Hinman, S. J. Wilson, C. T. Johansen (2014) “Prediction of hypersonic near-wake separation on circular cylinders”, 22nd Annual Conference of the CFD Society of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 2st to 4th (national conference; paper+oral; PhD work)
2. Application of Simplified Numerical Methods for Supersonic and Hypersonic Blunt Body Design Problems
Develop and use intermediate fidelity numerical tools for use in parametric design studies. Specific areas of interest are the design of hypersonic wave-ride leading edges and atmospheric entry vehicles. For these purposes I have developed a useful numerical tool called HyPE2D which uses shock-fitted finite differences, the method of characteristics, and a numerical solution to the boundary layer equations to achieve estimates for drag and peak heat flux. This solver has been compared against some other CFD solvers and was found to give highly accurate results in orders of magnitude less time. With this solver I have used genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimizations for minimizing peak heat flux on wave-rider leading edges.
HyPE2D has been developed with a various levels of fidelity based on the desired accuracy and computing time. For example at the lowest fidelity a prediction of drag and heat flux can be predicted almost instantly, however with a sacrifice in accuracy. Below is a graphic showing a changing leading edge shape on the left, and the resulting heat flux distribution on the right calculated with the lowest fidelity.
Publications and Conferences
W. S. Hinman, Simon Schmitt, C. T. Johansen, Patrick E. Rodi (2015) “Computational fluid dynamics study of optimized hypersonic leading edge geometries” 20th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, July 6th-9th (International Conference; paper+oral; PhD work)
W. S. Hinman, S. J. Wilson, C. T. Johansen, (2015) “Application of simplified numerical methods for rapid analysis in atmospheric entry vehicle design”, 53rd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Kissimee, Florida, January 5-9 (international conference; paper+oral; PhD work)