Oscillations of a moderately underexpanded choked jet impinging upon a flat plate

Abstract

The oscillation of a moderately underexpanded choked jet impinging upon a flat plate is investigated both analytically and numerically. The feedback mechanism between oscillations of the standoff-shock and the plate is clarified. Pressure waves produced by the motion of the shock are reflected by the plate. In addition, oscillations in the shock position lead to downstream entropy fluctuations, which generate pressure waves as they are convected through the stagnation flow near the plate. A linear stability analysis is used to investigate the stability threshold and frequencies of oscillation, as a function of jet pressure ratio and nozzle-to-plate distance. The analytical predictions are compared to results from a numerical simulation and to the experimental data of Powell (1988) and Mørch (1963, 1964).