Abstract: The impact mechanism of sideslip angle on shock wave interference structures at the VSBLE(V-shaped blunt leading edge) of a three-dimensional inward-turning inlet is studied through numerical simulation and theoretical analysis. The focus is on examining the types of shock wave interference at a VSBLE with a radius ratio R/r = 4.5 and the variation trends of peak wall heat flux and pressure under conditions of Mach number 6 and sideslip angles ranging from 0° to 8°. Numerical simulation results show that, regarding wave system interference structures, the types of primary shock interference and secondary shock interference on the windward side of the model do not change with the increase of sideslip angle, whereas the type of secondary shock interference on the leeward side transitions from regular reflec-tion to Mach reflection. To effectively predict the boundary of the secondary shock interference type transition, a theo-retical analysis method of shock wave interference under sideslip conditions is established based on inviscid shock theory. It is found that with the increase of sideslip angle, the flow parameters in the secondary shock interference regions on the windward and leeward sides shift towards values lower than the von Neumann boundary and higher than the detachment boundary, respectively. In terms of wall heat flux and pressure, changes in sideslip angle lead to alterations in the peak heating/pressure values on the windward and leeward sides, displaying different variation pat-terns. The results from both theoretical and numerical simulations indicate that the trend of transmitted shock intensity and heating/pressure peak values with sideslip angle changes are generally consistent. This suggests that the change in transmitted shock intensity caused by variations in sideslip angle is the key factor leading to different variation pat-terns in the heating/pressure peak values on the windward and leeward sides. This study can provide a reference for the aerodynamic heating/pressure load required for structural design at the VSBLE.

Key words: Inlet, shock wave interference, sideslip angle, shock wave reflection, aerodynamic heating