Numerical Investigation of Local Resistance to Backpressure in Hypersonic Inlet with Suction

The local resistance to backpressure is numerically investigated in a hypersonic inlet with suction. The results indicate that, as the backpressure increases, the shock train is ultimately stabilized at the trailing edge of the slot. The maximum backpressure tolerated by the reference inlet with suction is increased by approximate 12%, with a loss of 1.88% of the mass flow rate of the mainstream. The suction can still suppress the longitudinal pressure fluctuation of the shock train. The downstream accumulative adverse information can be prevented from propagating upstream by local transformation of the shock-wave system and local evolution of the flowfield within the suction slot. The critical iconic feature of local resistance to backpressure is obtained to represent the suction efficiency limitation. An empirical pressure rise expression with a local pressure jump, for above the critical maximum backpressure of the reference inlet, is fitted by considering the local pressure jump and the quadratic distribution to quantitatively analyze the mechanism of local resistance to backpressure. These results aid in understanding the mechanism of local resistance to backpressure in hypersonic inlets with suction and lay the foundation for similar work.