Performance enhancement of three-dimensional hypersonic inlet with sidewall compression

Abstract

Extensive tests and analysis have been implemented to enhance the overall performance of the three-dimensional hypersonic inlets with sidewall compression. The goal of this research is to improve the mass flowrate (MFR) at design point, while keeping good starting characteristics at low Mach number. A series of inlet models have been designed and tested at Mach 4 and 6 in a free-jet tunnel. The present study focuses on the influence of the cowl deflection angle and the position of the sidewall compression on the inlet overall performance. The results indicate that the cowl deflection angle had great influence on the inlet starting characteristics, and the sidewall compression allocation is a key point of elevating the MFR at design Mach number. Remarkably, enhancement of the overall performance of the three-dimensional hypersonic inlet has been achieved.