Vortex structure generation on the frontal surface of a cylinder set transversely in a hypersonic flow

The problem of formation of spatially periodic structures on the frontal surface of a cylindrically blunted body set transversely in a hypersonic flow is studied. Within the framework of the model adopted, a possible mechanism of vortex structure generation on the frontal surface of the blunt body is proposed and confirmed by calculations; in this mechanism, the curved bow shock produces a vortex flow, while in its turn the vortex, which persists under weak dissipation, acts on the shock thus maintaining its curved shape. It is shown that the spatially periodic mode of hypersonic flow past a cylinder can exist in the case of a uniform incident flow and under homogeneous boundary conditions on the body surface.