The influence of boundary layers on supersonic inlet unstart

H. Do, S. Im, M. G. Mungal, M. A. Cappelli

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A transverse air jet injected into a Mach 5 model inlet flow generated by an in-draft supersonic wind tunnel, is used to induce inlet unstart. Planar Laser Rayleigh Scattering (PLRS) from condensed CO2 particles in the tunnel flow is used to visualize the unsteady flow during unstart. Simultaneously, pressure traces along the wind tunnel are recorded with high speed pressure sensors attached to the bottom wall of the wind tunnel. A series of time synchronized PLRS images reveals that a shock system, followed by flow separation, originating from the jet injection nozzle propagates upstream. The flow then unstarts upon the arrival of the shock at the inlet. Studies conducted using three different inlet model geometries indicate that the presence of turbulent wall boundary layers strongly affect the unstart dynamics. It is found that relatively thick turbulent boundary layers result in faster inlet unstart, when compared to thin, laminar boundary layers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication17th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes
Event17th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2011 - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: 2011 Apr 112011 Apr 14

Publication series

Name17th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2011

Conference

Conference17th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period11/4/1111/4/14

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Control and Systems Engineering

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