Effects of Shock Wave/Boundary-Layer Interaction on Performance and Stability of a Mixed-Compression Inlet

Experiments were conducted to study various kinds of shock wave/boundary layer interaction (SBLI) in an axisymmetric mixed-compression inlet. Further, some of the experimental findings were compared and verified by numerical solutions where possible. A classification of different types of SBLI relevant to the mixed-compression inlets is performed. Interactions of expelled normal shock wave/boundary-layer at subcritical and at buzz condition is investigated using Schlieren and shadowgraph flow visualization as well as unsteady pressure recordings. The data is further compared with the CFD prediction. Interactions of cowl lip reflected oblique shock and the terminal normal shock with the spike boundary-layer at both critical and supercritical operations that leads to shock trains and pseudo-shock phenomena are also studied. In this case numerical simulation results were used to illustrate the flow field. Experimental pressure recordings are used for validation and further discussion. The structure of SBLI flow in an inlet depends highly on the throttling value. For near critical throttling values, interaction of internal compression oblique shocks with boundary-layer and pseudo-shock phenomenon is dominant. Increasing the inlet back pressure pushes normal shock wave out of the inlet duct. Formation of lambda shock due to interaction of separated boundary-layer with normal shock wave is also investigated. The numerical and experimental results show that there exist different kinds of shock wave boundary-layer interactions relevant to the supersonic inlets. Each of these flow interaction phenomena has different effects on the stability and on the performance of the inlet. Interaction of terminal normal shock with internal duct boundary-layer causes pseudo-shock phenomenon that leads to increase of flow distortion and reduction of total pressure recovery. In addition interaction of normal shock wave with external cone boundary-layer causes buzz instability and degrades inlet performance.