Experimental study of shock wave interference heating on a cylindrical leading edge at Mach 6 and 8

This paper presents the details of an experimental study of shock wave interference heating on a cylindrical leading edge representative of the cowl of a rectangular hypersonic engine inlet. The study was conducted at Mach numbers of 6.3, 6.5 and 8.0. This study has provided the first (1) detailed pressure and heat transfer rate distributions for a two-dimensional shock wave interference on a cylinder and (2) insight into the effects of temperature dependent specific heats on the phenomena. The peak pressure and heat transfer rates were 10 times the undisturbed flow stagnation point levels. The peak levels and their gradients increased with Mach number. Variation in specific heats and hence the ratio of specific heats with temperature manifest in slightly lower loads and amplification factors than for corresponding perfect gas conditions.