Hypersonic boundary layer instability measurements at low and high angles of attack

Thesis

This research experimentally investigated the effects of angle of attack, wall-to-total temperature ratio, and freestream disturbance levels on hypersonic boundary layer instabilities at Mach 7. The motivation was to improve the understanding of hypersonic boundary layer instabilities and inform numerical transition models so that transition can be predicted in flight. Although many studies exist on this topic, there is little high resolution data available on instabilities for high angles of attack. The study used a 7° half angle cone with small nose bluntness, and included a heater cartridge to test multiple wall-temperature distributions. Measurements are presented using two experimental facilities with varying wall-to-total temperature ratio: the low total enthalpy Oxford High Density Tunnel (HDT) and the high total enthalpy T4 Stalker Tunnel at The University of Queensland. Models were heavily instrumented with high-frequency PCB132 pressure sensors, to investigate the development of instabilities on the cone surface.

Authors: Wylie, S

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-mnvvqry9j
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English