Supersonic Flow Past a Thermal Source

The results of an experimental investigation and numerical simulation of a gasdynamic structure formed as a result of supersonic flow past a pulsating thermal source are presented. Heat was supplied to the flow by producing a limited plasma volume as a result of the breakdown of the focused radiation of a CO₂ laser operating in the pulse periodic regime. On the basis of the experimental data obtained, a thermal source model was developed and accepted for further numerical calculations. The calculations were carried out within the framework of the inviscid gas model using the TVD scheme and nonreflecting boundary conditions. The effect of the relevant gasdynamic and energetic parameters on the flow pattern associated with the studied phenomenon is established. Data on the flow parameter distributions in the wake of the thermal source are obtained as a function of the freestream Mach number.