Tomography-like flow visualization of a hypersonic inward-turning inlet

The flow field in a typical inward-turning inlet was visualized using the Planar Laser Scattering (PLS) method in a shock tunnel with a nominal Mach number of 6. The opaque inlet, which is truncated at a series of sections, and the following transparent isolator, are combined to enable the optical access at different streamwise locations. The sequential PLS images provide a tomography-like flow visualization, which confirm the existence of streamwise Counter-rotating Vortex Pairs (CVPs) in both external and internal flow field of the inlet. Generation mechanisms of these CVPs are unraveled with the help of a numerical simulation, among which the cowl notch plays an important role in the generation of surface trailing CVPs along the centerline of the cowl. Moreover, the cowl shock sweeps the internal boundary layer towards the body side, which ultimately accumulates low-momentum flow on the body side in forms of a large CVP propagating downstream through the isolator. The CVPs formed in the shape-transition are responsible for the nonuniform flow field of the inward-turning inlet. This study indicates that the V-shaped cowl notch affects the downstream flow significantly and, therefore, should be examined thoroughly in practical applications.