The public reporting burden for this collectiyv.oÄ information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including 'gathering and maintaining the data needed, arV;)Jpmpleting and reviewing the collection of information._ Send comme of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Washington Headqua.-(0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any otner provraim, «. ._., subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS.ces, sctior ports ..iall be REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)2. REPORT TYPE Final ReportDATES PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN 55455 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)USAF/AFRL AFOSR 801 N. Randolph Street Arlington VA 22203 SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) AFOSR SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S) DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENTDistribution Statement A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ABSTRACTThere has been increasing interest in developing numerical methods and accurate physical models for solving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problems of hypersonic continuum and rarefied flows. In this work, we establish a framework for validating numerical methods and physical models employed in popular CFD codes. The first main objective of this work is to assess the ability of current state-of-the-art methods to simulate challenging hypersonic flow problems by comparing to well characterized experiments. The second main objective is to provide benchmark numerical solutions to hypersonic double-cone laminar flows that can be used as code validation cases. There has been increasing interest in developing numerical methods and accurate physical models for solving computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problems of hypersonic continuum and rarefied flows. In this work, we establish a framework for validating numerical methods and physical models employed in popular CFD codes. The first main objective of this work is to assess the ability of current state-of-the-art methods to simulate challenging hypersonic flow problems by comparing to well characterized experiments. The second main objective is to provide benchmark numerical solutions to hypersonic double-cone laminar flows that can be used as code validation cases. This report has been derived from Dr. Ioannis Nompelis' Ph. D. Thesis at the University of Minnesota.We have simulated experiments of hypersonic laminar double-cone flows that were performed at the Large Energy National Shock (LENS) facility. These experiments were conducted as part of a validation effort for continuum and particle-based codes. The double-cone flow was chosen because it exhibits strong viscous/inviscid and shock interactions, ...