Conical flow as a result of shock and boundary-layer interaction on a probe

Abstract

The formation of a conical shock and a conical region of flow separation originating from the tip of a thin traversing tube was observed in a supersonic tunnel as a result of interaction of a strong shock with the boundary layer on the tube surface. The angles of the conical shock and separation surfaces and the static pressure in the separation region are in good agreement with the theoretical conical flow solutions. The extent of the conical flow illustrated should act as a warning against the use of static pressure tubes for measuring pressures in the regions of strong shocks.