What is the detrimental effect of high temperature hypersonic flow over a vehicle?

Attitude problem

Altitude problem

Communication blackout

Friction causing depletion of ablation

Correct Answer : Communication blackout

Explanation : At certain altitude and Mach number in hypersonic flow, the vehicles are unable to communicate by transmitting or receiving radio waves. This is due to the high temperature flow causing ionization of the chemically reactive flow which produces free electrons that absorb these radio waves. This is known as ‘communication blackout’.

Recently Updated in Aerodynamics Questions

Why is hypersonic similarity parameter essential?

Hypersonic flow over cone

Supersonic flow over wedges

Hypersonic flow over slender bodies

Hypersonic flow over flat plate

Correct Answer : Option (C) : Hypersonic flow over slender bodies

Explanation : Hypersonic similarity parameter K is an important governing parameter in order to study the hypersonic flow i.e. flow with Mach number greater than 5 over slender bodies. It is given by the product of free stream Mach number and flow deflection angle.

For two bodies with same shape but different scales, which of these parameters must be equal for the flow to be same in hypersonic regime?

Mach number

Normal flow velocity

Tangential flow velocity

Product of Mach number and slenderness ratio

Correct Answer : Option (D) : Product of Mach number and slenderness ratio

Explaination : The product of Mach number and slenderness ratio along with gamma are the two parameters which appear in the non – dimensional equations. For a body that has same shape but have different scale ratio, if these parameters are same, the flow over them at hypersonic regime remain same. This is the physical meaning of the hypersonic similarity parameter.