Flow Characteristics and Parameter Influence of the Under-Expansion Jet on Circulation Control Airfoil

The enhancement in the jet pressure ratio and jet velocity contributes to expanding the control efficiency and control boundary of circulation control airfoil under high subsonic incoming flow. However, because of an excessive jet pressure ratio, the jet separates prematurely on the Coanda surface, resulting in control failure. In a bid to improve the adhesion capability of the jet under a high pressure ratio, a circulation control airfoil with a converging nozzle and back-facing step structure at the trailing edge was numerically simulated based on the Reynolds averaged Navier−Stokes equation (RANS), and a study was conducted on the complex flow structure of the under-expansion jet on the Coanda surface and the impact of design parameters such as jet pressure ratio, ellipticity, and nozzle height on the jet separation. The results show that the back-facing step provides an expansion space for the under-expansion jet and changes the shock-boundary layer interaction form. As the jet pressure ratio and nozzle height increase, the size of the shock cell increases, the strength of the intercepting shocks on both sides increases, and Mach reflection occurs, resulting in jet stratification and in a decline in the adhesion capability of the jet. The combination design of proper ellipticity and the back-facing step contributes to forming a closed low-pressure vortex area behind the step and promote jet attachment. Reducing the nozzle height can improve the adhesion capability of the jet under a high pressure ratio.