Three-dimensional effect on transonic rectangular cavity flows

Experiments are performed to study the characteristics of rectangular cavity flows. Mean and fluctuating surface pressures in a Mach 1.28 turbulent flow past rectangular cavities are obtained. The cavity length-to-depth ratio (L/D) is varied from 2.43 to 43.00, while the length-to-width ratio (L/W) is 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0. The three-dimensional effect is significant on the trailing edge vortex, which affects the peak pressure ahead of the rear face, pressure gradient and levels of pressure fluctuation near the trailing edge, particularly for closed and transitional cavity flows. L/W and Mach number are important for the definition of critical L/D for the cavity flowfield models. Received: 12 March 1999/Accepted: 30 August 2000