3-D supersonic combustion experiments with hydrogen in V-trough

Both supersonic blowdown and free jet wind tunnels were used in oil flow visualization and hydrogen gas burning tests of 60- and 90-deg V-shaped trough combustion characteristics. Oil dots showed that mass outflow from the reattachment region at the bottom of the V-trough dominated flow behavior, and occupied the trough's entire length and 10% of its cross-section. Intermingled vortex pairs were also found to superimpose themselves upon the outflow, and hydrogen burning within troughs reduced missile base drag by 25%. The troughs were aligned so that their long dimensions were parallel to the airflow, and the two top edges of the V section were mounted flush with respect to the upstream flat surfaces. Step heights tested ranged from 3.4 mm to 6.25 cm.