CFD Prediction of Ramjet Intake Characteristics at Angle of Attack

Abstract

The characteristics of installed intakes of a ramjet engine at angle of attack are predicted numerically. Three dimensional Navier Stokes equations are solved alongwith k - ε turbulence model using commercial CFD software. The software was first validated for isolated intake and computed results match very well with theoretical results available in literature. Pressure recovery Vs. mass flow characteristics of four installed intakes placed in a rear location of a ramjet vehicle is evaluated at different angles of attack upto 6°. Intake performance matches reasonably well with experimental results. It has been observed that significant variation of intake performance exists between windward and leeward intakes. For higher angle of attack, the leeward intake move towards the subcritical operation faster and the intake flowfield is seen to interact with the corebody boundary layer causing significant spillage.