EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES IN THE AACHEN HYPERSONIC SHOCK TUNNEL

Within the Sonderforschungsbereich 253 basic studies are performed on the hypersonic overall configuration ELAC-1 as well as on simpler deta il-models. Besides the construction of the engine inlet and nozzle, th eoretical and experimental studies over a Mach number range from 0 to 8 are of most interest. Since during the last five years the Aachen sh ock tunnel has proved suitable for generating hypersonic flows, experi ments are performed at Mach numbers between 7 and 8 to evaluate pressu re and heat flux distributions both around the overall configuration a nd simpler models. First results for the leeward side of the ELAC-1 co nfiguration and a rearward facing step are presented. The measurement techniques play an important role, because the useful test time with n early constant free stream properties amounts usually to a few millise conds. Some unconventional techniques, especially for heat flux, skin friction and forces measurement are described.