Physical model of the swept shock wave/boundary-layer interaction flowfield

New data are presented on the structure of fin-induced, swept shock/boundary-layer interactions. These data are obtained using a nonintrusive planar laser scattering (PLS) imaging technique. A range of interaction strengths, from barely separated to very strongly separated, is covered for freestream Mach numbers of 3 and 4. These new data, when combined with previous results on the flowfield and interaction footprint, are sufficient to allow the construction of a physical model for the swept interaction flowfield structure and behavior. This physical model is presented and discussed in terms of six detailed flowfield maps which take advantage of the inherent quasiconical behavior of the class of interactions considered.