Asymptotic solution of the two-dimensional equations for a thin viscous rarefied shock layer on a cold surface

Hypersonic rarefied flow past blunt bodies is studied in the continuum-free-molecular transition regime. On the basis of an asymptotic analysis three rarefied gas flow patterns are established depending on the relation between the relevant parameters of the problem. In the first regime corresponding to a cold surface asymptotic solutions of the equations of a thin viscous shock layer are derived at low Reynolds numbers in the axisymmetric and plane cases. Simple analytical expressions for the pressure and the heat transfer and friction coefficients are obtained as functions of the freestream parameters and the body geometry. With decrease in the Reynolds number the coefficients approach the values corresponding to free-molecular flow. In this regime a similarity parameter for the hypersonic rarefied flow past bodies is determined. The asymptotic solutions are compared with numerical solutions and the results of direct statistical simulation by the Monte Carlo method.