Flowfield characteristics of swept struts in supersonic annular flow

Abstract

Abstract Supersonic flow over four, circumferentially equidistant, diamond-shaped swept struts positioned between a concentric cylindrical cowl and centerbody is examined from both experimental and numerical points of view. Experimental cross flow vectors and cross-planar pitot pressure and static pressure contours are compared with their numerical counterparts downstream of the strut trailing edge. Numerical results are also presented which show shock wave and expansion fan patterns generated at each strut/endwall intersection in order to demonstrate the full complexity of the flow. The numerical results are analyzed to show that computed limiting streamlines on the strut, cowl and centerbody surfaces are compatible with corner and shock generated vortices observed in the flow. Comparisons between predicted and measured contours downstream of the strut trailing edge indicate that the prescribed zero-equation (isotropic eddy viscosity) turbulence model performs well outside the wake region behind a strut, but not within the wake itself.