Numerical analysis on the MHD flow control of the hypersonic vehicle inlet

Abstract Under the assumption of the low magnetic Reynolds number, the coupled model of the turbulent flow field and the electromagnetic field is established to simulate the flow characteristics of Weakly Ionized Gas (WIG) in the inlet under the MHD (Magnetohydrodynamic) effect. Results show that WIG has more active thermodynamic properties than that of air in inlet. Specifically, at the throat, the thermal conductivity of WIG is augmented by 1.64 times compared to that of air. For the inlet with an MHD acceleration zone, the separation shock waves will be fallen on the third ramp and converted into the reattachment shock waves here. And the separation bubbles generated by the reattachment shock waves are weakened due to the multiple reflections before entering the isolator, hence, the wall pressure and the skin friction coefficient have a decrease in the isolator. Nevertheless, in the inlet with an MHD deceleration zone, the separation shock waves will be fallen precisely at the throat under the effect of the countercurrent Lorentz force, so that the separation shock waves are directly transformed into reattachment shock waves at the throat and all reflected into the isolator, which leads to the peak manifestation of the wall pressure and the skin friction coefficient in the isolator.