Finite-rate chemistry effects in turbulent hypersonic boundary layers: A direct numerical simulation study

The accurate prediction of hypersonic flows is a key challenge for the design of reentry bodies or hypersonic aircraft. Knowledge concerning the wall-bounded turbulence is especially needed. The present work is a fundamental study of a turbulent spatially developing flat-plate boundary layer subjected to high-enthalpy effects. The influence of air chemical reactions, typical of high-speed regimes, is investigated by means of direct numerical simulations. First- and second-order statistics are accurately examined, as well as spectral content and classical correlations.