Supersonic flow unsteadiness induced by control surface deflections

Abstract

Control surface deployment in a supersonic flow has many applications, including flow control, mixing, and body-force regulation. The extent of control surface deflections introduces varying flow unsteadiness. The resulting fluid dynamics influence the downstream flow characteristics and fluid-structure interactions severely. In order to understand the gas dynamics, an axisymmetric cylindrical body with a sharp-tip cone at zero angles of attack ($\alpha=0^\circ$) is examined in a free stream Mach number of $M_\infty=2.0$ and Reynolds number of $Re_{D}=2.16 \times 10^6$ ($D=50$ mm). Four static control surface deflection angles ($\theta = \pi/36,\pi/6,\pi/3,\pi/2$, rad) are considered around the base body. The cases are computationally investigated through a commercial flow solver adopting a two-dimensional detached eddy simulation (DES) strategy. Recirculation bubble length, drag coefficient's variation, wall-static pressure statistics, acoustic loading on the model and the surroundings, $x-t$ trajectory and $x-f$ spectral analysis, pressure fluctuation's correlation coefficient on the model, and modal analysis are obtained to understand the flow unsteadiness. At $\theta = [\pi/36]$, the wall-static pressure fluctuations behind the control surface are minimal and periodic, with a mere acoustic load of about 50 dB. At $\theta = [\pi/2]$, a violent periodic fluctuation erupted everywhere around the control surface, leading to a higher acoustic load of about 150 dB (3 times higher than the previous). For $\theta = [\pi/6]$ and $[\pi/3]$, high-frequency fluctuations with small and large-scale structures continuously shed along the reattaching shear layer, thereby causing a broadened spectra in the control surface wake.