Characterizing spanwise dynamics of a blunt-fin-generated shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction

An investigation into the spanwise characteristics of a shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interaction generated by an unswept blunt fin in a boundary layer with Mach 1.78 edge conditions was performed using an implicit large-eddy simulation with complementary Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations and companion wind tunnel experiments. The separation region was revealed to be most severe at the centerline and rapidly lost strength with increasing distance from the interaction centerline in the outboard direction. Separation was limited in the outboard extent to 2–3 fin leading-edge diameters, and the dynamic content within the entire separated region was observed to be consistent with that on the centerline. The separation line persisted as a disturbance in the pressure distribution even without flow separation, and its curvature linearized at a location approximately six diameters in the spanwise direction away from the centerline.