Boundary-Layer Instabilities over a Cone–Cylinder–Flare Model at Mach 6

Abstract

Computations are performed to investigate the convective and global boundary-layer instabilities over a sharp cone–cylinder–flare model at zero-degree angle of attack. The model geometry and the flow conditions are selected to match the experiments conducted in the Boeing/AFOSR Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel at Purdue University. The geometry consists of a nominally sharp 5 deg half-angle cone, followed by a cylindrical segment, and then a 10 deg flare. Additionally, flare half angles equal to 8 and 12 deg and nosetip radii equal to 0.1, 1, and 5 mm are studied. An axisymmetric separation bubble is generated as a result of the laminar shock–boundary-layer interaction in the cylinder–flare region. The comparison of the laminar flow solution and the schlieren images shows a remarkable agreement between the respective locations of both the boundary-layer edge and the reattachment shock. The linear amplification of first and second Mack mode instabilities that begin to amplify in the cone region are computed with a combination of the parabolized stability equations and the harmonic linearized Navier–Stokes equations. The predicted frequency spectra of the surface pressure fluctuations associated with both planar and oblique instability waves capture the distinct lobes within the disturbance amplification spectra measured with PCB® and Kulite sensors. To our knowledge, this represents the first successful comparison between convective instability analysis and measured surface pressure fluctuations for a hypersonic configuration with a separation bubble. Finally, the global instability analysis shows that the laminar flow becomes supercritical for flare half angles larger than 8 deg.