Momentum balance based model for predicting the scale of separation bubbles induced by incident shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions

Abstract

The incident shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interactions (SWTBLIs) over a wide range of flow conditions are predicted by the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) numerical method to generate detailed two-dimensional steady flow field data. After examining the momentum balance terms over the control volume involving the separation bubble, it is concluded that the values of the pressure-force and the momentum-rate terms are significantly higher than the total stress-force term. Ignoring the effect of those small terms on the control surface, a model for the prediction of SWTBLI separation bubble scale is proposed based on the momentum balance over the two-dimensional control volume. For model prediction, essential correlations for key characteristic physical quantities are given. The predicted normal and streamwise scales of the SWTBLI separation bubble are in good agreement with the experimental results in the literatures.