Analysis of the Flow Structure in a Supersonic Channel with Cavity

Abstract

The results of numerical study of supersonic flow in a channel with cavity are given. The calculated oscillation spectra are analyzed using the fast Fourier transform. Two types of oscillatory modes can be distinguished in the resulting periodic self-oscillatory regime. The first type of the modes corresponds to acoustic vibrations caused by the passage of sound waves along the cavity and calculated using the modified Rossiter formula. The second type of the modes corresponds to the frequencies of flow-rate oscillations caused by mass transfer between the cavity and the external flow. It is shown that the flow structure is modified when fuel is supplied in front of the cavity. Active combustion occurs in the layer of mixing fuel and oxygen from air. The flow pattern demonstrates the onset of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability on the interface between the main flow and the reacted gas. It is shown that an increase in the supplied fuel pressure leads to a decrease in the oscillation frequency and an increase in the characteristic size of oscillations.