The effect of spatial perturbations of a supersonic flow on heat flux to the surface of blunt bodies

The dependence of perturbations of pressure and heat flux to the surface of blunt bodies (cylinder, ellipse, and sphere) on the period of spatial perturbations of a supersonic flow has been studied numerically for different Reynolds numbers. It is shown that small perturbations of velocity, temperature, or density of the incoming flow can lead to significant perturbations of the heat flux to the surface of the body while the pressure perturbations remain insignificant. With an increase in the Reynolds number and radius of curvature (i.e., for blunter bodies), the level of heat flux perturbations significantly increases.