Nonlinear interaction between first and Mack-mode instabilities in high-supersonic flows
Abstract
Boundary-layer transition has a number of important consequences in high-speed flows, includinghigher heat load, higher drag, and greater fuel-air mixing in engines. These issues haveimportant ramifications for the design of several technologies of Naval interest, including the HypersonicGlide Vehicle (HGV) and hypervelocity projectiles. At approximately Mach 4, both thefirst mode and the Mack mode are of approximately equal importance to the transition process andare subject to nonlinear interaction with one another. It is unknown which of these instability modes(or a product of their interaction) ultimately leads to transition in such cases. Further, computationalevidence suggests that these interactions may play an important role at higher Mach numbers wherethe first mode is much more stable. We propose the establishment of new experimental capabilitiesat the University of Arizona aimed at exploring these nonlinear phenomena. Our scientific goalsinclude an experimental study of nonlinear interactions in the Mach 4 boundary layer over a rightcircular cone and their effect of the transition process. Additionally, we aim to perform severalfollow-on experiments studying the effect of wall temperature and tip bluntness on these interactions.Finally, we will perform a Mach 5 experiment to determine how these interactions changewith increasing Mach number.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 03, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712340
Entities
People
- Stuart A. Craig
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Arizona