Control of shock-induced separation on compliant surfaces using air-jet vortex generators*

Shock/turbulent boundary-layer interactions (STBLI) with separation occur in numerous aerospace-transportation applications and detrimentally affect the aerodynamic performance and system integrity. For lightweight designs, many surfaces in aerospace systems are not rigid; the strong and unsteady aerodynamic loads imposed by STBLIs therefore result in coupled dynamics with the compliant surfaces. Our objective is twofold: reduce the detrimental effects associated with shock-induced separation on these surfaces and understand the coupled effects of separation control with air-jet vortex generators (AJVGs), STBLI, and compliant walls on the boundary-layer turbulence and turbulent structures. We chose an experimental approach and studied the effect of an array of AJVGs on a 24◦ compression-ramp interaction at Mach 2.52 over rigid and flexible panels of varying aspect ratio. Mean and turbulent velocities are analyzed based on particle image velocimetry measurements, the panel deformation and motion is assed using digital image correlation.