Flow control of swept fin shock interactions by laser-induced plasmas

A computational study was conducted to understand the effect of laser energy deposition on an Edney Type IV shock-shock interaction over a swept fin. This flow exhibits a localized heat flux 8 times greater than the undisturbed value, therefore the objective is to examine the capability of laser energy deposition to mitigate this detrimental effect. The previously developed energy deposition model is designed to predict the fluid dynamic effects of the deposition process in hypersonic flows. The model captures inverse bremsstrahlung absorption, evolution of the plasma region, air breakdown chemisty, and the subsequent fluid dynamics. The energy deposition in this study was found to increase the peak heat flux and the peak surface pressure significantly, as the pressure wave compressed the bow shock to the body of the fin. Following the pressure wave, the high temperature region lowered the Mach number and pulled the bow shock upstream of the fin in a lensing effect. This resulted in the decrease of the peak surface pressure and peak heat flux. Once the flow returned to steady state the peak surface pressure and peak heat flux returned to their respective initial values.