Simulation of upstream impact of thermal choking in scramjet engine

The upstream effect of thermal choking due to combustion heat release in a scramjet combustor is studied in cold flow using an electrically actuated downstream blockage mechanism (made by Ron Portz and Saurav Pathak) which can adjust the exit width of the 2" wide combustor between 0.75 and 2.0" during test. Schlieren and Shadowgraph systems are used to study the induced movement of the upstream shock train in combustor as well as in 1" isolator for a variety of stagnation pressures, Mach numbers and exit blockages. Static pressure data is also gathered from 16 ports in the combustor and isolator. This project is continued by Qiuya Tu and Hidemi Takahashi.

Blockage mechanism with two synchronized paddles establishing symmetric exit blockage.

Video (.avi, 16 MB) of run at M=1.6 showing effect as exit opening with is decreased from 2" (0% blockage) to 0.8" (60% blockage) and then opened up again. Static pressures along the isolator and test section are indicated. The symmetric rearward facing step is located at x/H=0 and the location of the testsection window used for Schlieren is indicated in red on the x-axis.

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