Experimental Investigation on the Influence of Sidewall Compression on the Flowfield of a Scramjet Inlet at Mach 7

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of an extensive measurement campaign to investigate the effect of external and internal sidewall compression as well as different contraction ratios on the performance of the flowfield of a scramjet inlet. Experiments were conducted in the H2K windtunnel of the DLR Cologne. The results show that external sidewall compression induces strong separation and vortex structures in the external part which impair the starting behaviour and inhibit any gains of the compression ratio. With internal sidewall compression, strong increases of the pressure ratio could be achieved and the inlet still started at internal contraction ratios well above the Kantrowitz-Limit.