Search

This study builds on previous research into the basic flow structure of a separated curved swept compression ramp shock wave/turbulence boundary layer interaction (CSCR-SWBLI) at the leading edge of an inward-turning inlet. We employ the ice-cluster-based planar laser scattering (IC-PLS) technique, which integrates multiple observation directions and positions, to experimentally investigate a physical model with typical parameter states at a freestream Mach number of 2.85. This study captures the fine structure of some sections of the flow field and identifies the presence of Görtler vortices (GVs) in the CSCR-SWBLI. It is observed that due to the characteristics of variable sweep angle, variable intensity interaction, and centrifugal force, GVs exhibit strong three-dimensional characteristics in the curved section. Additionally, their position is not fixed in the spanwise direction, demonstrating strong intermittence. As the vortices develop downstream, their size gradually increases while the number decreases, always corresponding to the local boundary layer thickness. When considering the effects of coupling of bilateral walls, it is noted that the main difference between double-sided coupling and single-sided uncoupling conditions is the presence of a large-scale vortex in the central plane and an odd number of GVs in the double-sided model. Finally, the existence of GVs in CSCR-SWBLI is verified through the classical determine criteria Görtler number (GT) and Floryan number (F) decision basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many UAVs today have an S-bend inlet for the sake of stealth; however, the majority of them have a relatively gentle transition of the flow channel. This study presents an experimental investigation of the aerodynamic performance and swirl flow characteristics of a UAV inlet with double 90° bends, which is also integrated with an aircraft fuselage as well as a volute. The influences of angle of attack, sideslip angle, AIP Mach number and freestream speed are explored in detail. The influences of the deflectors installed ahead of the first 90° bend of the inlet and the baffle installed at the bottom of the volute are revealed. It is found that both the deflectors and the baffle are beneficial in enhancing the aerodynamic performance of the inlet and alleviating the intensity of the swirl flow inside the volute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel flow perturbation model meant to investigate the effects of incoming wind shear on a hypersonic inlet/isolator is presented. This research focuses on the transient shock/boundary layer interaction and shock train flow evolution in a hypersonic inlet/isolator with an on-design Mach number of 6.0 under incoming wind shear at high altitudes, precisely at an altitude of 30 km with a magnitude speed of 80 m/s. Despite the low intensity of wind shear at high altitudes, the results reveal that wind shear significantly disrupts the inlet/isolator flowfield, affecting the shock wave/boundary layer interaction in the unthrottled state, which drives the separation bubble at the throat to move downstream and then upstream. Moreover, the flowfield behaves as a hysteresis phenomenon under the effect of wind shear, and the total pressure recovery coefficients at the throat and exit of the inlet/isolator increase by approximately 10% to 12%. Furthermore, this research focuses on investigating the impact of wind shear on the behavior of the shock train. Once the inlet/isolator is in a throttled state, wind shear severely impacts the motion of the shock train. When the downstream backpressure is 135 times the incoming pressure (p0), the shock train first moves upstream and gradually couples with a cowl shock wave/boundary layer interaction, resulting in a more significant separation at the throat, and then moves downstream and decouples from the separation bubble at the throat. However, if the downstream backpressure increases to 140 p0, the shock train enlarges the separation bubble, forcing the inlet/isolator to fall into the unstart state, and it cannot be restarted. These findings emphasize the need to consider wind shear effects in the design and operation of hypersonic inlet/isolator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to operate efficiently in various operating conditions, a turbine-based combined cycle engine (TBCC) variable nozzle is proposed to adjust the area of the nozzle throat and the exit simultaneously. The performances of the nozzle at static condition and at different freestream Mach numbers are analyzed. Results show that the design has a preferable static performance and the thrust ratios are 0. 90, 0. 97 and 0. 98 in typical states. After the introduction of the external flow, the freestream can suppress the overexpansion of the exhaust flow effectively at the low Mach number condition (Ma = 0. 8), so the thrust coefficient is enhanced by 6.7%. In the high Mach number conditions (Ma = 2. 8,4. 0), though the flow pattern of the nozzle downstream is apparently affected by the external flow, the pressure distribution of the central body and the internal flow path is hardly affected. Therefore, there is no change in the thrust ratios which stay at 0. 97 and 0. 98, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A complex internal-external coupling UAV inlet configuration with a double-90°-bended duct, a forebody and a volute is studied. • Two index parameters are proposed to evaluate the swirl flow characteristics of the inlet. • The influences of various factors on both the aerodynamic performance and swirl flow characteristics are analyzed. • A measure of adding two deflectors and a baffle in the inlet is proposed to enhance the aerodynamic performance and swirl flow characteristics of the inlet. • A shape optimization is performed to further improve the aerodynamic performance and swirl flow characteristics of the inlet. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) inlets commonly have a compact S-shaped inlet structure for the sake of stealth. Most of the current studies on subsonic inlets have focused on S-shaped configurations with relatively gentle transitions of the flow channel. In this study, the aerodynamic performance and swirl flow characteristics of a UAV inlet, which has double 90° bends in the duct and is integrated with an aircraft fuselage and a volute, are studied both experimentally and numerically. The influences of angle of attack, sideslip angle, AIP (Aerodynamic Interface Plane) Mach number, and freestream airspeed are analyzed. A measure of adding two deflectors in front of the first bend and a baffle at the bottom of the volute is proposed to improve the total pressure distortion and swirl distortion characteristics of the inlet. Finally, a practice of shape optimization is performed to further improve the aerodynamic performance and swirl flow characteristics on the basis of the baseline configuration. The results indicate that the maximum and minimum total pressure recovery coefficients of the baseline inlet configuration are 0.982 and 0.969, respectively, as well as the maximum total pressure distortion index of –0.0814 and the maximum swirl distortion index of 32.1 % under normal operating conditions. Through a total of 8 iterations of optimization, the total pressure recovery coefficient is eventually improved by 0.21 % of that of the baseline configuration, as well as the total pressure distortion index, swirl distortion index and maximum swirl angle reduced by 43.6 %, 4.6 % and 11.1 %, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow response hysteresis in a mixed-compression supersonic inlet's throttling/unthrottling process is unconducive to its practical engineering applications. To suppress such hysteresis, herein, a flow control method based on a distributed bleed system in the inlet's internal contraction part was proposed and applied to a rectangular supersonic inlet with a designed Mach number of 4.0 and an internal contraction ratio of 1.5. All tests were conducted in a supersonic wind tunnel at a freestream Mach number of 2.9, and the relevant test data were obtained using the high-speed schlieren and dynamic pressure measurement systems. The results indicate that the distributed bleed system improved the uncontrolled inlet's unstart throttling ratio from 43.8% to 47.3% and the restart throttling ratio from 29.4% to 47.1%, and it essentially eliminated the flow response hysteresis during the throttling/unthrottling process. Moreover, the hysteresis mechanism of the uncontrolled inlet, dominated by the separation-induced flow structures in the internal contraction part, was investigated to help elucidate the targeted control mechanism of the bleed system that suppresses the hysteresis. Finally, the specific flow phenomena in the oscillation of the controlled inlet were examined to study the bleed system's impact on the unsteady flowfield, including the coupled flow of the mainstream with the bleed system and complex wave motion structures. • Flow response hysteresis in a mixed-compression supersonic inlet's downstream throttling/unthrottling process is experimentally investigated. • An effective hysteresis suppression method based on a distributed bleed system is proposed. • New flow phenomena in the oscillation of the inlet under bleed control were examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]