Aerodynamic heating and loading within large open cavities in cone and cone-cylinder-flare models at Mach 6.7

The aerodynamic heating and loading distributions within large cavities exposed by surface openings to hypersonic flow were determined in the 8-foot high-temperature structures tunnel. Cone and cone-cylinder-flare models with cavities having regular and irregular surface-opening shapes were aerothermally tested at various angles of attack up to 30 deg. Tests were conducted at a Mach number of 6.7, a total temperature of 1800 K, a dynamic pressure of 80 kPa, and a stream unit Reynolds number of 6,000,000 per meter. The results showed that the heating rates at internal reattachment were generally lower but of the same order as the corresponding external heating rates; however, other internal heating rates were an order of magnitude lower. The internal flow showed characteristics of being funneled into jets or being dispersed dependent upon the internal surface contour.