Cavity Flows in a Scramjet Engine by the Space-Time Conservation and Solution Element Method

Numerical simulation of supersonic flows over open cavities in the setting of a dual-mode ramjet/scramjet engine are reported. To calculate the unsteady cavity flows, we employ the space-time conservation element and solution element (CESE) method, a novel numerical method based on a unified treatment of space and time for calculation of flux balance. Supersonic cavity flows with and without fuel injection are studied to understand the mechanisms of mixing enhancement and flame holding by cavities. Without injection, numerical results compared favorably with the experimental data for dominant frequencies and time-averaged pressure coefficients inside the cavities. With an upstream injection, the flow oscillations are drastically suppressed