Rarefied Gas Dynamics

Author: Shen Qing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-19
Features: Traditional gas dynamics methods are no longer applicable when the mean free path of gas molecules is comparable to the characteristic length of the flow field. In such cases, rarefied gas dynamics methods must be used. This applies to the forces and heat experienced by spacecraft during high-altitude flight, as well as to cutting-edge fields of the 21st century such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and plasma material processing in vacuum systems. This book systematically and concisely explains rarefied gas dynamics methods, providing the foundation of the methods and focusing on the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method as well as cutting-edge topics related to low-speed rarefied gas flows. The book is divided into 7 chapters. The first two chapters serve as an introduction to the subject. Chapter 1 briefly summarizes the molecular energy state structure and energy state distribution with minimal to provide a preliminary understanding of the physical foundation of non-equilibrium phenomena in rarefied flows. Chapter 2 discusses the fundamentals of molecular theory, including binary collisions, the Boltzmann equation, and the equilibrium state of gases, including an introduction to phenomenological molecular interaction models such as Variable Hard Sphere (VHS), Variable Soft Sphere (VSS), and Generalized Hard Sphere (GHS) models. Chapter 3 discusses various molecular-surface interaction models, including the reciprocity principle reflecting detailed balance and the exposition of the CLL model based on this principle. Chapter 4 discusses free molecular flow. Chapter 5 discusses the continuum equations applicable to slipflow domains and slipflow boundary conditions, along with some simple solutions and the problem of thermal creep. Chapter 6 provides a comprehensive and general introduction to various analytical and numerical methods for solving flow fields. Chapter 7 introduces the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method and discusses cutting-edge topics such as non-equilibrium flows and low-speed rarefied flows, including methods for handling internal energy relaxation and chemical reactions, the use of general-purpose software for complex flow fields, and the information preservation (IP) method for low-speed rarefied flows. This book is suitable for senior undergraduate and graduate students in mechanics and aerospace engineering, as well as researchers engaged in gas dynamics and aerospace research.