Flow Properties in the Near Wake of Hypersonic Vehicles at Low Altitudes
Abstract
The boundary layer and near base region of three reentry vehicles were calculated under conditions of a turbulent boundary layer and wake. Flow properties affecting the transmission of electromagnetic signals from the base region are presented and include predictions of the charged particle densities and collision frequencies. The possible simulation of a full scale vehicle by a vehicle of smaller size whose heatshield is intentionally seeded with 'low ionization potential' materials is investigated and found to be feasible within reasonable engineering limits. Reentry heating and detailed boundary layer analyses were performed to establish the fluid profiles at the aft station of the vehicles. Boundary layer separation and the near wake flowfield was determined by a self-consistent viscous-inviscid interaction theory. A single non-equilibrium reaction was used to determine the electron concentration profiles above the recirculation region, while equilibrium thermodynamics was applied to determine the neutral and charged species concentrations in the recirculation region.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADB015279
Entities
People
- J. T. Ohrenberger