Control of Various Swept Shock-Wave Interactions Using Corotating Vortex Generators

This experimental study investigates the control of various swept-fin-generated interactions using an array of 30-deg inclined rectangular vanes in a corotating configuration at Mach 2.05. The array is placed upstream of the quasi-conical and conical zones of the interaction. The effect of vane height [Formula: see text], 0.75, and 1.0 for a given chord length [Formula: see text] is also studied. The primary objective is to study 1) the baseline interactions for fin angles of 6, 9, 11, 15, and 18 deg, and 2) the effect of control in modifying each of these interactions. The former objective led to the development of a criterion, not reported before, which helps to demarcate unseparated/incipient separated flows from separated flows. The vortex-energized flow penetrates deep into the inception zone of each interaction, thereby significantly modifying the quasi-conical and conical zones of flow development. The effect of control, however, decreases with an increase in the strength of the interaction. For vane height of [Formula: see text], the plateau pressure in the conical region of interaction shows a maximum reduction of approximately 100% and 50% for fin angles of 6 and 18 deg, respectively. Secondary incipient separation, a notable feature of moderately strong interactions, is suppressed with control.