Isentropic compression inlet for supersonic aircraft
AssigneeGulfstream Aerospace Corporation
InventorsTimothy R. Conners, Donald C. Howe, Preston A. Henne
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Abstract
A supersonic inlet employs relaxed isentropic compression to improve net propulsive force by shaping the compression surface of the inlet. Relaxed isentropic compression shaping of the inlet compression surface functions to reduce cowl lip surface angles, thereby improving inlet drag characteristics and interference drag characteristics. Supersonic inlets in accordance with the invention also demonstrate reductions in peak sonic boom overpressure while maintaining performance.
Claims6
A method of making a supersonic inlet of a jet powered airplane, said airplane designed for flight at a specific and pre-determined Mach number, comprising:
- providing an inlet comprising a compression ramp and cowl;
- said cowl having an upstream lip;
- said compression ramp having an upstream straight compression ramp having an apex, connected downstream with a concave surface relative to the flow, said concave surface connected downstream with a straight surface;
- providing said apex with an angle and positioning said cowl lip such that at said Mach number, an inclined shock wave generated at said apex hits said cowl lip;
- at said Mach number, said cowl lip producing a terminal shock wave extending to the compression surface;
- providing said concave surface with a radius of concavity producing successive shocklets;
- said radius of concavity being larger than a radius that at said Mach number would cause said shocklets to focus on said cowl lip;
- at said Mach number, each of said shocklets intercepting said terminal shock wave at a different location between said cowl lip and said compression surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.