Quantitative analysis of flow structures in compression ramp based on flow visualization

Flow visualization studies on the laminar boundary layer flows over a 25 degrees compression ramp are carried out via NPLS technique in a Mach 3.0 wind tunnel; fine flow structures such as boundary layer, shear layer, and shock waves may be visualized clearly. Based on the visualized data, quantitative analysis is conducted using intermittency, spatial correlations, and fractal theory. The intermittency function gamma of the boundary layer and the interaction region is calculated, and the size of coherent structures and the structure angle theta for the boundary layer are obtained, so that the fractal dimension of the boundary layer in streamwise can be provided. Experimental data in the present paper have been compared with the results of Ringuette and Bookey, and the quantitative characteristics of flow structures are discussed in detail.