Raindrop Breakup in the Shock Layer of a High-speed Vehicle

Abstract

The problem of predicting raindrop breakup effects in the shock layer of a high-speed vehicle is discussed. Relevant experimental data, obtained in a shock tube with shadowgraph and x-ray photography, are presented in the form of correlations of the nondimensional time to breakup with the Weber number, together with the drop mass variation and trajectory as a function of nondimensional time. The relationship between the experimental situation and the flight case is delineated for the stagnation and downstream conical-flow regions of a high-speed shock layer. Based on the experimental correlations, calculations are made of the impacting drop mass fractions, velocities, and impact angles for a vehicle traversing a rainstorm.