Numerical rebuilding of low enthalpy hypersonic flow in the GHIBLI plasma wind tunnel

The numerical analysis represents a powerful instrument to support experimentation, both in the preliminary stage and in the post-processing. In this last case, it can be useful to confirm the experimental results and to rebuild the physical phenomena as well. The subject of this paper is the numerical rebuilding process, by means of the FLUENT code, of the thermo-fluid dynamic conditions achieved in the GHIBLI Plasma Wind Tunnel during a cold flow experimental campaign. Such a rebuilding process has produced results which agree well with the experimental ones, both measured or calculated by means of the isentropic equations. The rebuilding confirms the achievement of the hypersonic conditions in the Test Chamber of the facility, operating with air flow at low enthalpy.