Fluid phenomena in scramjet combustion systems

This paper reviews important advances in understanding and predicting the behavior of scramjet combustion systems since the classic article published in this series by Antonio Ferri (1973). The review focuses on basic fluid phenomena and is divided into three distinct sections. The first briefly describes progress that has been made in the design and demonstration of practical scramjets around the world, especially in the US, the FSU, France, and Germany. The second provides a contemporary exposition of the aerothermodynamics of the dual-mode ramjet/scramjet combustion system, accounting for the role of the isolator in preventing unstart from either thermal choking or how separation due to heat release. The third part summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding fuel-air mixing in dual-mode ramjet/scramjet combustors, especially the potential of axial vorticity to increase mixing effectiveness over that of lateral vorticity.