The effect of base bleed on vortex shedding and base pressure in compressible flow

Abstract

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the phenomenon of vortex shedding from the blunt trailing edge of an aerodynamic body in transonic and supersonic flow. The effect of a discharge of bleed air from a slot in the trailing edge has been included and the relationship between the vortex formation and base pressure has been considered.In transonic flow a small amount of bleed air was found to produce a rearward shift in the point of origin of the vortices with a consequent substantial increase in base pressure. The effect was less marked in supersonic flow. At higher rates of bleed two different regimes of vortex shedding were identified and increase in bleed rate caused a reduction in base pressure. For bleed rates giving near-maximum base pressure no vortex shedding occurred.