The influence of the inflow speed on air-breathing supersonic laser propulsion

Lei Shi; Hao Chen; Li-hua Ma; Yong-an Chen; Zhi-yan Xu; Hua Hong

doi:10.1117/12.2032968

17 September 2013 The influence of the inflow speed on air-breathing supersonic laser propulsion

Lei Shi, Hao Chen, Li-hua Ma, Yong-an Chen, Zhi-yan Xu, Hua Hong

Proceedings Volume 8904, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2013: High Power Lasers and Applications; 89040N (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2032968
Event: ISPDI 2013 - Fifth International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging, 2013, Beijing, China

Abstract

A model of coupled dynamics for supersonic airbreathing propulsion is developed to simulate the development process of the thruster’s flowfield. The influence of the inflow speed, from 1 to 4 Mach, on the laser propulsion performance is investigated numerically. The results indicate that the inflow speed has a marked effect on the propulsion efficiency. Under the same laser parameters, the larger inflow speed leads to lower thruster and impulse coupling coefficient. By analyzing the phenomena in the complex unsteady flowfield, we found that the bow shock occurring out of the surface of the thruster due to supersonic inflow is the real cause of the performance worsening and air drag reduction becomes a very important task at supersonic laser propulsion.

Citation Download Citation

Lei Shi, Hao Chen, Li-hua Ma, Yong-an Chen, Zhi-yan Xu, and Hua Hong "The influence of the inflow speed on air-breathing supersonic laser propulsion", Proc. SPIE 8904, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2013: High Power Lasers and Applications, 89040N (17 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2032968

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available