Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2011
A modified error indicator is developed to study the supersonic turbulent flow over a backward-facing step. In the Cartesian coordinate system, the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations with a low-Reynolds-number k−ε turbulence model are solved. The modified error indicator, in which the unified magnitude of substantial derivative of pressure and unified magnitude of substantial derivative of weighted vorticity magnitude are incorporated, is applied to treat the mesh refining. To assess the present approach, the transonic turbulent flow around an NACA 0012 airfoil is performed. Based on the comparison with the experimental data, the accuracy of the present approach is confirmed. According to the high-resolutional result on the adaptive mesh, the structure of backstep corner vortex, expansion wave and oblique shock wave is distinctly captured.