Numerical simulations of the structure of supersonic shear layers

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Abstract
Time-dependent two-dimensional numerical calculations were performed to study the mixing characteristics of unforced, planar, confined shear layers formed by two parallel streams of air that come into contact after passing over a splitter plate. The evolution of the shear layer was examined by systematically varying the velocities, densities, and the static pressures of the two streams that come into contact at the trailing edge of the plate. At least one of the streams was always supersonic. For the range of the parameters studied, the supersonic shear layers show some organization, albeit less coherent than their subsonic counterparts. The most amplified frequency, obtained by Fourier analysis of the velocity and pressure fluctuations, depends on the effective inlet momentum thickness. Convective Mach numbers of the streams corresponding to each side of the shear layer were found to be quite different. The simulations indicate that the single convective Mach number as derived from an isentropic model is not sufficient to characterize the mixing behavior when the velocity, pressure, and density ratios are changed independently.