Study on a Two-Dimensional Supersonic Inlet with Inner Profile Adjustment

Abstract

According to the requirements of a wide speed range, a variable-geometry supersonic inlet with inner surface adjustment is studied. The basic design model of the inlet is established, and the influence of profile adjustment on the resisting back pressure ability and inlet performance boundary are analyzed using a theoretical method. Based on the numerical simulation method, the flow field simulation is carried out, and the flow field parameter distribution and performance of the adjustment inlet are studied in comparison with the fixed-geometry scheme. The results show that the starting Mach number is not changed for two inlet schemes because they have the same profile during low-speed flight. The fixed-geometry inlet has insufficient compression on the incoming flow, and the resisting back pressure ability decreases significantly during high-speed flight. The compression ratio and the compression wave system can be easily changed at the same time through the adjustment of the inner profile for the adjustable inlet during high-speed flight. Both the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation show that the resisting back pressure ability and performance are significantly improved after the adjustment. As such, the adjustment method in this paper can fundamentally solve the problem of the insufficient compression of the wide-range working inlet during high-speed flight, and the method can be easily realized.