Experimental study of hysteresis and catastrophe in a cavity-based scramjet combustor

Hystereses and catastrophes were experimentally investigated in a cavity-based scramjet combustor. The inflow Mach number was 3.0. Fuel Equivalence Ratio (ER) was continuously regulated with multi-steps to explore influences of historical regulation directions on combustion states. Two divided hysteresis loops with catastrophes were observed. By 1-D flow estimations, the first loop occurred with shock-free/separated scramjet mode transitions, while the second kept in the separated scramjet mode. This breaks through the traditional knowledge that hysteresis and catastrophe were certainly related to ramjet/scramjet mode transitions. The first hysteresis and catastrophes were attributed to flame stabilization mode transitions between the cavity shearlayer stabilized and the jet-wake stabilized, with flow separation establishment/vanishment upstream the cavities. The obvious variations of flame and shock/separation structures meant large wall-pressure changes in the expansive duct, and generated obvious thrust catastrophes. Besides, transition ER and catastrophe were larger in historical ER-increasing path because combustion efficiency became obviously larger as flow separation established. Difference of critical transition ERs meant the first hysteresis. The second hysteresis and catastrophes in the jet-wake stabilized mode were attributed to flame/shock interaction mode transitions between the flame/shock weak interaction mode and intensive interaction mode. Each transition caused slightly stronger/weaker flame interacting with slightly larger/smaller flow separation, which meant small wall-pressure changes in the expansive duct, and thus thrust catastrophe was unobvious. Hysteresis occurred as the critical transition ER was slightly higher in historical ER-increasing path because of slightly lower combustion efficiency under slightly smaller separation. (C) 2021 Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Production and hosting by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

Hysteresis and catastrophes were observed in a cavity-based scramjet combustor, breaking traditional knowledge about their relationship with ramjet/scramjet mode transitions. The first hysteresis and catastrophes were attributed to flame stabilization mode transitions, while the second were linked to flame/shock interaction mode transitions.