Experimental Study on a Rectangular Variable Intake for Space Planes

Hypersonic wind tunnel test of the rectangular variable geometry intake is performed. For realization of a Precooled turbojet engine, development of a hypersonic ramjet engine is planned. To investigate performance of the intake of the hypersonic ramjet engine, wind tunnel test is done with freestream Mach number of 5.1. The total pressure recovery was 18 % with 12.9 % of ramp bleed. Several reasons for low total pressure recovery are shown. Supersonic internal compression is not enough. Then, the throat Mach number is high (M2.61) and total pressure losses at the terminal shock is large. Supersonic flow at the throat and position of the terminal shock is sensitive to a difference of the second ramp's throat height and the third ramp's throat height. Flow separations at the second ramp's trailing edge and the third ramp's leading edge are seen those could result in the trigger of unstart. The seal mechanism between the ramps and the sidewalls is important.