Experimental and numerical study of ?ow structures of the second-mode instability

Flow structures of a Mach 6 transitional boundary layer over a 260 mm long flared cone are investigated by the particle image velocimetry(PIV). Particle images near the curved wall are initially transformed into surface-fitted orthogonal coordinates and spliced with their 180?-symmetric images to satisfy a no-slip condition at the wall.The results are then reversely transformed to the physical domain. Direct numerical simulation(DNS) is also performed to validate the experimental results. The experimental and numerical results are in agreement, indicating a strong dilatation process within the second-mode instability.