Experiments in realistic flow fields
The University of Manchester & Kushal Singh
To enable SSTO, airbreathing propulsion intakes are required at launch and through atmospheric flight. The stability and compression ratio of these intakes are critical to the performance of the vehicle and must be understood fully. However, large velocity ranges and compressibility pose a challenge.
Limitations in numerical modelling need to be supported by experiments in realistic flow fields. One of the key challenges in understanding and characterising these flows is the ability to simulate flow conditions both experimentally and numerically. The large velocity ranges, high levels of compressibility and complex three-dimensional flows around control surfaces and devices provide an extreme challenge to numerical models.
Consequently, the limitations in numerical modelling in this area need to be supported by experimental investigations carried out in static or ballistic tunnels. The development of suitable diagnostic and flow visualization techniques for such flows is required to fully characterize these flows.
Student: Kushal Singh
University Partner: The University of Manchester