The Effects of Compression Direction on the Performance of a Two-Dimensional Inlet Mounted on the Aft Body

Abstract

The aft-body mounted inlet of a hypersonic vehicle has garnered attention for its potential to shorten the propulsion system. This study aims to explore the influence of compression direction on the performance of the hypersonic inlet attached to the vehicle’s aft body. To achieve this objective, a simplified, integrated model of the body and two-dimensional inlet was developed and evaluated using numerical simulation techniques. The study conducted a comparative analysis of the overall and starting performance between inverted and normal inlet layouts while ensuring uniformity in inlet configuration and installation location. The results indicated that the inverted layout surpassed the normal layout in terms of airflow capture capabilities, with an 8.24% higher mass flow rate. However, the inverted inlet layout exhibited an 11.46% reduction in total pressure recovery performance compared to the normal layout. Additionally, the study found that the inverted inlet layout demonstrated a self-starting Mach number 1.62 lower than that of the normal inlet layout. This difference stemmed primarily from the pressure gradient on the body surface induced by the incident shock wave of the inverted inlet, which enhanced starting performance by eliminating low-energy flow near the wall.