Inlet starting predictions for sidewall-compression scramjet inlets

Abstract

While inlet capture, total pressure recovery, and compression are important performance parameters in the design of scramjet inlets, the inlet must be capable of starting. An analytical, inviscid method has been developed that provides first order starting information for sidewall-compression scramjet inlets and trends have been established for some of the parameters that affect inlet starting. These parameters include sidewall contraction ratio, cowl position, Mach number, sweep angle, fuel injection struts, and sidewall and strut compression angles. Results from the parametric study are compared with data from both no-strut and two-strut inlet models.