Shock-shock interaction in high enthalpy flow

The shock-shockinteraction in front of a cylinder is investigated numerically to identify the peak loads of pressure and heat transfer distributions on the surface [5]. The flow conditions are related to those found in experimental studies in the high enthalpy shock tunnel of the DLR in Gottingen (HEG) [6]. Four different types of interactions, differing from one another by the location of the impinging shock relative to the body, are resolved in detail and reveal variations of the peak loads on the surface as well, as different shock structures in the flow field. Following Edney's classification [2], we describe the four cases as a steady stale type III interaction, an intermediate type III - IV interaction, a type IV interaction with a periodic oscillation of the shock system and a type IVa interaction with an unstable hypersonic jet touching the body.