In aerodynamics, hypersonic speeds are those that are highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally been assumed to refer to speeds of Mach 5 (5 times the speed of sound) and above. The hypersonic regime is a subset of the supersonic regime.
The precise Mach number at which a craft can be said to be fully hypersonic is elusive, especially since physical changes in the airflow (molecular dissociation, ionization) occur at quite different speeds. Generally, a combination of effects become important “as a whole” around Mach 5. The hypersonic regime is often defined as speeds where ramjets do not produce net thrust. This is a nebulous definition in itself, as there exists a proposed change to allow them to operate in the hypersonic regime (the Scramjet)
Characteristics of flow
While the definition of hypersonic flow can be quite vague and is generally debatable (especially due to the lack of discontinuity between supersonic and hypersonic flows), a hypersonic flow may be characterized by certain physical phenomena that can no longer be analytically discounted as in supersonic flow. the peculiarity in hypersonic flows are as follows: 1. Shock Layer 2. Aerodynamic Heating 3. Entropy Layer 4. Real gas Effects 5. Low density Effects 6. Independence of Aerodynamic Co-efficients with Mach Number.
Small shock stand-off distance
As a body’s Mach number increases, the density behind the shock generated by the body also increases, which corresponds to a decrease in volume behind the shock wave due to conservation of mass. Consequently, the distance between the shock and the body decreases at higher Mach numbers. (more…)
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