Numerical investigation on flow nonuniformity-induced hysteresis in scramjet isolator

Numerical simulation and theoretical analysis were conducted to study the hysteresis inside scramjet isolator during the reciprocating process of back pressure variation. It is revealed that only a regular reflection is theoretically possible for two leading shocks when the inflow Mach number is greater than 2.0, and no hysteresis can occur in the transition between shock reflection types. Nevertheless, wall suction, gas injection, and background waves cause non-uniformity of the incoming flow and would make hysteresis possible. Besides the classical hysteresis in the transition between shock reflection, new kinds of hysteresis were found in both the deflection angle of separated boundary layer and the location of the shock train. Moreover, the occurrence of hysteresis in the deflection angle of the separated boundary layer is accompanied with the shock reflection hysteresis. In the case with background waves or gas injection, hysteresis in the starting position of leading shock was observed too. As back pressure decreases, the leading shock does not follow the same path as that as the back pressure increases, and it is anchored at the location where the background shock or the injection interacts with the leading shock. It is inferred that, if two strong adverse pressure gradient regions move towards and interact with each other, hysteresis will take place when they start to separate.