Initial development of a hypersonic free mixing layer

Abstract

A preliminary experimental investigation to establish some of the characteristics and further the understanding of the initial development of a turbulent free mixing layer for hypersonic speeds has been conducted. Mean profile data at about 6 inches downstream of the exit of a hypersonic nozzle have been obtained in nitrogen for a nominal Mach number of 19.5, total temperature of about 1670 K and Reynolds number range from about 50,000 to 110,000 per foot and have been compared with profiles upstream of the nozzle exit. Static pressure varied across the shear layer for the present tests. The outer 80 percent of the high-velocity portion of the free shear layer can be calculated by a rotational method of characteristics. However, turbulent mixing is evidently important in the low-velocity region, and effects of eddy viscosity and eddy conductivity should be included in a theoretical analysis.