Oblique shock wave reflection at plasma array presence

This work discusses the effect of a filamentary plasma array on shock wave (SW) reflection pattern and on a shock-induced separation zone geometry. It includes experimental and computational components both. The experimentation was performed in the supersonic blowdown test rig SBR-50 at the University of Notre Dame at flow Mach number M=2, stagnation pressure P0=1.7-2.7 bar and stagnation temperature T0=300 K. Oblique shock wave generator composed of a symmetric solid wedge was installed on the top wall of test section while the filamentary plasma generator was arranged on the opposite wall. Thus, the main SW originating from the wedge impinged the plasma area. As a result of the SW-plasma interaction, the flowfield was significantly modified, including a shift of the main SW upstream and redistribution of wall pressure over the test section. The computational analysis allowed a 3D reconstruction of the SW interaction with the plasma array. The physics of SW-plasma array interaction are also discussed.

Mechanism analysis of magnetohydrodynamic shock control in hypersonic flow

The effects of external magnetic fields on the shock-wave configuration at hypersonic plasma flow field are investigated in this paper. A series of numerical simulations over various geometry configurations, namely, a blunt body and a fixed-geometry inlet forebody, have been conducted by varying the applied magnetic field under different freestream conditions. Results show that magnetohydrodynamic shock control capabilities under three types of magnetic field are ranked from weak to strong as dipole magnet, solenoid magnet, and uniform magnet field. Under the same applied magnetic field, it is easier to deflect the shock at a relatively high altitude condition, compared with the low altitude case. The bow shock standoff distance is dependent on the distribution of counter-flow Lorentz force right after shock in the stagnation region. For the oblique shock control, the function of two components of Lorentz force is different that the counter-flow one decelerates the flow and increases the shock-wave angle, while the normal one squeezes the oblique shock and deflects the streamlines.

Refraction of Oblique Shock Wave on a Tangential Discontinuity

The refraction of an oblique shock wave on a tangential discontinuity dividing two gas flows with different properties is considered. It is shown that its partial reflection occurs with the exception of the geometrical diffraction of an oblique shock. Another oblique shock, expansion wave or weak discontinuity that coincides with the Mach line can act as a reflected disturbance. This study focuses on the relationships that define the type of reflected discontinuity and its parameters. The domains of shock wave configurations with various types of reflected discontinuities, including characteristic refraction and refraction patterns with a reflected shock and a reflected rarefaction wave, are analyzed. The domains of existence of various shock wave structures with two types of reflected disturbance, and the boundaries between them, are defined. The domains of parameters with one or two solutions exist for the characteristic refraction. Each domain is mapped by the type of refraction with regard to the Mach number, the ratio of the specific heat capacities of the two flows and the intensity of a refracted oblique shock wave. The conditions of the regular refraction and the Mach refraction are formulated, and the boundaries between the two refraction types are defined for various types of gases. Refraction phenomena in various engineering problems (hydrocarbon gaseous fuel and its combustion products, diatomic gas, fuel mixture of oxygen and hydrogen, etc.) are discussed. The result can be applied to the modeling of the shock wave processes that occur in supersonic intakes and in rotating and stationary detonation engines. The solutions derived can be used by other researchers to check the quality of numerical methods and the correctness of experimental results.

Experimental and Computational Studies on Flow Characteristics of Single Expansion Nozzle

The present investigation aims to study the flow field characteristics of a single expansion nozzle (SEN). The flow field characteristics of conventional convergent-divergent (C-D) nozzle are also investigated for comparison. The experimental and computational studies were carried out for nozzle pressure ratios of 1.45, 1.55, 1.75, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The studies reveal that, for the single expansion nozzle the oblique shock moves towards the solid boundary with the increase of nozzle pressure ratio, which makes the flow to accelerate continuously in the majority of the divergent portion. The single expansion nozzle delivers the flow with higher Mach number than the C-D nozzle at the exit of the nozzle.

Teaching Limiting Behavior of Plane Oblique Shocks

Plane oblique shocks are formed in supersonic flows that cause abrupt flow deceleration, compression and turning. This behavior persists up to a maximum flow turning angle, θmax and a corresponding shock angle βmax for any upstream Mach number M1 with corresponding Mach angle, μ1. Beyond the maximum turning angle, the oblique shock becomes detached from the body and forms a bow shock. In teaching limiting behavior of plane oblique shocks, over a broad Mach range, from 1.5 to 5.0, we discover two interesting correlations. The first is on βmax which remains nearly invariant and the second is (μ1 + θmax) that remains nearly constant. In air with γ = 1.4, βmax is nearly 65.64° with 0.67° standard deviation and (μ1 + θmax) is nearly 53.24° with 0.32° standard deviation angle. Rankine-Hugoniot and Prandtl oblique shock relations are used in theoretical demonstrations of limiting behavior of plane oblique shocks.