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Experiments on cruise propulsion with a hydrogen scramjet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

R. J. Stalker
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering , The University of Queensland , Queensland, Australia
A. Paull
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering , The University of Queensland , Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Measurements of drag have been made, in a shock tunnel, on a simple integrated vehicle-engine combination for hypersonic cruise with hydrogen scramjet propulsion. The test flow Mach number was 6·4, and the velocity was 2·45 kms-1. Zero drag, which is the necessary condition for cruise, was achieved as the equivalence ratio approached one. It was found that an analysis using established aerodynamic concepts was adequate for predicting drag in the case of no combustion. When combustion occurred results of direct connect experiments provided a qualitative guide to the measured levels of drag, and indicated that thrust nozzle combustion was taking place. An heuristic analysis is used to point to the important effect this may have on propulsive lift.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1998 

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