This paper discusses the structure of the flow within the engine inlet of an uninhabited combat air vehicle (UCAV). The UCAV features a top-mounted, serpentine inlet leading to an engine buried within the fuselage. The performance of the inlet is found to depend strongly on a flow separation that occurs within the inlet. Both the time-averaged and the unsteady structure of this separation is studied, and an argument relating the inlet performance to the behavior of this separation is suggested. The results presented in this paper also suggest that there are considerable aerodynamic limitations to further shortening or narrowing of the inlet. Since there are substantial, system level benefits from using a smaller inlet, the case for separated flow control therefore appears clear.
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March 2004
Technical Papers
Flow Separation Within the Engine Inlet of an Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV)
Michael J. Brear,
Michael J. Brear
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia
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Zachary Warfield,
Zachary Warfield
Structures and Configuration Group, Mechanical Engineering Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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John F. Mangus,
John F. Mangus
Integrated Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
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Steve Braddom,
Steve Braddom
Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering, West Point
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James D. Paduano,
James D. Paduano
Gas Turbine Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Jeffry S. Philhower
Jeffry S. Philhower
Integrated Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
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Michael J. Brear
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia
Zachary Warfield
Structures and Configuration Group, Mechanical Engineering Section, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
John F. Mangus
Integrated Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Steve Braddom
Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering, West Point
James D. Paduano
Gas Turbine Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jeffry S. Philhower
Integrated Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Contributed by the Fluids Engineering Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the Fluids Engineering Division March 17, 2003; revised manuscript received October 6, 2003. Associate Editor: W. W. Copenhaver.
J. Fluids Eng. Mar 2004, 126(2): 266-272 (7 pages)
Published Online: May 3, 2004
Article history
Received:
March 17, 2003
Revised:
October 6, 2003
Online:
May 3, 2004
Citation
Brear, M. J., Warfield, Z., Mangus, J. F., Braddom, S., Paduano, J. D., and Philhower, J. S. (May 3, 2004). "Flow Separation Within the Engine Inlet of an Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) ." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. March 2004; 126(2): 266–272. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1667885
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