The Turbulent Supersonic Base Pressure Problem: A Comparison between a Theory and Some Experimental Evidence

Abstract

SummaryA comparative study is made of a recent theoretical approach to the problem of predicting the supersonic, turbulent base pressure and of the experimental evidence. The theory is based on the Chapman-Korst flow model of separated flows with a modified recompression process. Due allowance can be made for the presence of the initial boundary layer, with the limitation that its thickness must be less than about one step height at low Mach numbers, dropping to about one third of a step height at M=3·0. Fairly good agreement between the predicted and measured base pressure can be obtained although a predicted Reynolds number effect is not observed. The absence of this Reynolds number effect is. discussed in the light of recent experiments on flow mixing.