Three-dimensional and off-design studies of a mach 7.4 hypersonic inlet

Abstract

In this thesis, three dimensional and off-design calculations were done on a specific Mach 7.4 inlet referred to as the P8 inlet. The Lewis Inlet code was used to obtain numerical results. A few of these results were compared with relevant experimental results obtained from work done at NASA Ames. The three dimensional nature of the flow in the inlet with cut back side plates was studied. This is the first study to be done on the P8 inlet with cut back side plates. It was concluded that though the flow was three dimensional in the inlet, this effect was prominent only close to the side plates. Hence, a 2-D version of the code could be used to give fairly accurate results and enable a considerable saving of computer time and money. To determine the effectiveness of a hypersonic vehicle at off-design conditions, the code was run with the off-design conditions incorporated in a 2-D run. This was done firstly by changing the angles of attack of the flow in the P8 inlet and secondly by using a different geometry for the inlet i.e. the geometry of the P2 inlet. Conclusions were drawn about the strength of the shock waves at different angles of attack and the mass flow through the inlet for different angles of attack.