Validation of Three-Dimensional Simulation of Flow through Hypersonic Air-breathing Engine

Abstract

The flow path of a conceptual hypersonic air-breathing scramjet engine integrated with the vehicle (without combustion) has been simulated numerically using ANSYS CFX software with the SST turbulence model. The computations were performed for the free stream Mach number of 6 and angle-of-attack of 5°. A strong separation bubble was observed on the bodyside wall in the internal compression region where the reflected cowl shock impinges on body which in turn increases the static pressure substantially. The external-internal flow field of the hypersonic mixed compression intake, shock-boundary layer interactions, and the shock-shock interactions present in the internal compression region have qualitatively been obtained and analysed. The variation of centreline pressure along the bodyside wall close to the symmetry plane obtained from numerical simulation centreline has been compared with the experimentally measured data. It has been observed that the computed wall pressure matches fairly well with the measured values in the external ramp compression region, internal compression region and in the combustion chamber. The flow patterns and the pressure variations near the middle wall and the fuel injecting strut locations have also been analysed.

Defence Science Journal, Vol. 65, No. 4, July 2015, pp. 272-278, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.6979