Experimental study on flow field behind backward-facing step using detonation-driven shock tunnel

As a research to develop a SCRAM jet engine is actively conducted, a necessity to produce a high-enthalpy flow in a laboratory is increasing. In order to develop the SCRAM-jet engine, stabilized combustion in a supersonic flow-field should be attained, in which a duration time of flow is extremely short. Therefore, a mixing process of breathed air and fuel, which is injected into supersonic flow-fields is one of the most important problem. Since, the flow inside SCRAM jet engine has high-enthalpy, an experimental facility is required to produce such high-enthalpy flow-field. In this study, a detonation-driven shock tunnel was built and was used to produce high-enthalpy flow. Further-more, SCRAM jet engine model equipped backward-facing step was installed at test section and flow-fields were visualized using color-schlieren technique and high speed video camera. The fuel was injected perpendicular to the flow of Mach number three behind backward-facing step. The height of the step, distance of injection and injection pressure were changed to investigate the effects of step on a mixing characteristic between air and fuel. The schlieren photograph and pressure histories show that the fuel was ignited behind the step.