Test particle Monte Carlo simulation of the interaction of two parallel flat plates in free molecular flow regime

A free-molecular flow past two parallel circular flat plates is analyzed by the test particle Monte Carlo (TPMC) method, and flow shadowing and multiple reflections between the two plates is discussed with heuristic arguments based on the kinetic theory of gases. Flow shadowing and multiple reflections have a significant influence on aerodynamic coefficients of the two plates. Lift coefficients of the two plates do not equal to zero at the pitch angle of 0 degrees and drag coefficients of the shading plate are larger than those of the shaded plate. The area ratio and distance of the two plates have an evident effect on flow shadowing and multiple reflections. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.