Abstract: | Air‐breathing propulsion systems for high‐speed space travel applications are studied. Ramjets and scramjets have been identified as potential candidates. The flow inlets of such systems are modelled with a simulation that can predict all complex inlet flow features, including shock due to forebody, multiple shock reflections, normal shock, shock–boundary layer interaction and associated separation for two‐dimensional and axisymmetric inlets. Computed values are in good agreement with experimental data. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |