3D Supersonic Flow in a Channel with a Bump

Application ID: 43741


This example models 3D supersonic flow, including the effect of a shock, in a straight channel with a small obstacle on one of the walls.

As the flow hits the obstacle, shock waves are diffracted from the obstacle and walls of the channel. The propagating shock waves form a pattern in the velocity profile and density distribution.

The model makes use of the adaptive mesh refinement feature in COMSOL Multiphysics. This feature is important as the shock waves should be well resolved by the mesh, but predetermination of their position is difficult to determine.

Results are in good agreement with those published in literature.

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: