Massively separated flows due to transverse sonic jet in laminar hypersonic stream

A numerical simulation of flow interactions due to a transverse sonic jet ejected from a two-dimensional slot into a hypersonic stream is carried out to examine the capability of Navier-Stokes solutions in predicting a massively separated flow upstream of the jet exit. Grid sensitivity has been studied using gradually refined meshes to address the numerical accuracy of the discretised solution of the governing equations. Comparison has been made with published experimental data regarding the separation and reattachment points and the pressure distribution in the separated region. Flow field visualisation provides further insight into the interaction region and reveals a small clockwise vortex immediately ahead of the jet exit, which is found to be responsible for the second peak in the surface pressure distribution.