Turbulence Transport in Extreme Non-Equilibrium Environments

A theoretical and experimental research project was performed to provide improved understanding and simulation of extreme temperature multiphysics gaseous turbulent flows, which have important science and engineering applications. The testbeds were (a) wall bounded turbulent flow at Mach 6, with DC glow discharge plasma activated thermal nonequilibrium and (b) high enthalpy (1.8 7.2 MJ/kg) hypervelocity Mach stem flows, with shock turbulence interactions and triple point initiated free shear layers. The project deliverables include: (i) database characterizing turbulence transport in the Mach 6 wall boundary layer, which includes the first known direct measurement of vibrational temperature surveys of NO(v=1) across a hypersonic boundary layer (laminar and turbulent) which allows for the advancement and validation of new theoretical treatments; (2) new database characterizing the role of thermochemistry on the basic structure turbulence generated by a Mach stem (shock-shock interaction) flow at extreme hypervelocity temperatures, which includes the first known first known laser based optical measurements velocity and temperature fluctuation amplification across a normal shock wave, and (3) development of a new national resource scale ground testing facility, which, at the time of this writing, was supporting additional research for the Army and Navy.