Mean and fluctuating pressure in boat-tail separated flows at transonic speeds

Kumar, Rajan and Viswanath, PR and Prabhu, A (2002) Mean and fluctuating pressure in boat-tail separated flows at transonic speeds. In: Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 39 (3). pp. 430-438.

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Abstract

Experiments were carried out investigating the features of mean and unsteady surface pressure fluctuations in boat-tail separated flows relevant to launch vehicle configurations at transonic speeds. The tests were performed on a generic axisymmetric body in the Mach-number range of 0.7-1.2, and the important geometrical parameters, namely, the boat-tail angle and diameter ratio, were varied systematically. The measurements made included primarily the mean and unsteady surface-pressure fluctuations on nine different model configurations. Flow-visualization studies employing a surface oil flow, and schlieren techniques were carried out to infer features like boundary-layer separation, reattachment, and shock waves in the flow. The features of mean and fluctuating surface pressures are discussed in detail including aspects of similarity. It has been observed that, on a generic configuration employed in the present study, the maximum levels of surface-pressure fluctuations in the reattachment zone are appreciably lower than those found on launch vehicle configurations having a bulbous or hammerhead nose shape. A simple correlation is suggested for the maximum value of rms pressure fluctuations in the reattachment zone at different freestream Mach numbers.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets
Publisher:	American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Aerospace Engineering(Formerly Aeronautical Engineering)
Date Deposited:	20 Jul 2011 05:45
Last Modified:	14 Feb 2013 05:13
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/39271

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