In order to evaluate uncertainties in computational fluid dynamics （CFD） computations of the stagnation point heat flux, a physical criterion is developed. Based on a quasi-one-dimensional hypothesis along the stagnation line, a new stagnation flow model is applied to obtain the governing equations of the flow near the stagnation point at hypersonic speeds. From the above equations, the compatibility relations are given at the stagnation point and along the stagnation line, which consist of the physical criterion for checking the accuracy in the stagnation point heat flux computations. The verification of the criterion is made with various numerical results.
