Flow Separation in Shock Wave Boundary Layer Interactions

This work presents an assessment of the experimental data on separated flow in shock wave turbulent boundary layer interactions at hypersonic and supersonic speeds. The data base consists of selected configurations where the only characteristic length in the iteration is the incoming boundary layer thickness. It consists of two-dimensional and axisymmetric interactions in compression corners or cylinder-flares, and externally generated oblique shock interactions with boundary layers over flat plates or cylindrical surfaces. The conditions leading to flow separation and the empirical correlations for incipient separation are reviewed. The effects of Mach number, Reynolds number, surface cooling, and the methods of detecting separation are discussed.