3D simulations reveal unexpected instabilities in hypersonic flows. These discoveries could transform the design of ultra-fast vehicles. Researchers at the University of Illinois used supercomputers ...

Karpuzcu said the cone geometry represents a simplified version of many hypersonic vehicles and understanding how the flow affects surface properties can help lead to design considerations.

View of the cone junction of a simulated flow field. In the image labeled as A, B and C are the locations of the conical shock, wavy separation line and the discontinuity in the circular shape.

Hypersonic flight, with speeds exceeding Mach 5, pushes the boundaries of engineering. But as vehicles slice through the atmosphere at these incredible velocities, complex interactions occur ...