GPU-Accelerated Synthetic Schlieren: A High-Fidelity Flow Diagnostic for Scramjet Test Facilities

Kurzfassung

The analysis of scramjet propulsion systems requires a rigorous approach to capture the interaction between high-enthalpy flows and combustor geometries. This presentation discusses recent computational simulations performed using the thoroughly validated TAU software developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). By leveraging contemporary high-performance computing (HPC) resources, this work moves beyond simplified models to employ fully three-dimensional boundary conditions. The primary objective is to rigorously analyze the influence of wall effects on flow physics—phenomena that are often obscured in lower-dimensional approximations but remain critical for predicting real-world engine performance. These simulations and their subsequent GPU-accelerated visualizations are intended to provide essential predictive data to inform and optimize a new experimental campaign at the High Enthalpy Shock Tunnel (HEG) in Göttingen, ensuring a more targeted and efficient test matrix.