Part II – Lecture 5

Expansion Waves
(Prandtl-Meyer Flow)

Supersonic Flow Turning (revisited)

Oblique shock Expansion waves

Supersonic flow is “turned into Supersonic flow is “turned away

itself” from itself”
Flow properties are changed Flow properties are changed
discontinuously across the shock continuously across the waves

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 2

 Prandtl-Meyer Expansion Fan

Problem:
− given upstream conditions (1) and
turning angle ( )
− calculate downstream conditions (2)

Goal: develop Mach relations for flow passing an expansion fan

Equations: mass, momentum, energy conservations, state

equations, definition of Mach number and Mach wave

Assumptions: steady, quasi-1D, isentropic

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 3

Mach Relations

Approach
− begin with single Mach wave that expands supersonic flow
through an infinitesimal (differential) angle of magnitude d
− essentially using differential control volume

Mass/Momentum Conservation
− using same type of approach as
for oblique shocks (2 momentum
components: normal and tangent)
− yields Vt = constant across wave

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 4

 Relation Between Velocity and Angles

Use Vt = constant
Vt , upstream Vt , downstream
V cos (V dV ) cos( d )
(V dV )(cos d cos sin d sin )
→1 →d
0
V cos V cos (cos ) dV (V sin ) d (sin ) dVd

dV dV 1
(tan )d d
V V M 2
1
dV
or d M2 1 (1)
V

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 5

Relation Between M and d

Next, relate V and M; Energy conservation

dV dM da 1
(V=Ma) T0 T 1 M2 constant
V M a 2
dV dM d T dM 1 dT 1
d 1 M2
dT0 dT 2
V M T M 2 T 0
T0 T 1 2
1 M
dV dM ( 1) / 2 M 2 dM 2
V M 1 2 M dT ( 1) M 2 dM
1 M
2 T 1 2 M
1 M
2
1
M2
dV dM 2 1 dM
1 (2)
V M 1 2 1 2 M
1 M 1 M
2 2

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 6

 Relation Between M and d (cont.)

Substitute Eq.(2) into (1)

M 2 1 dM
d (3)
1 2 M
1 M
2

dM = change in Mach number associated

with d turn angle

Need finite angle, = 2 – 1 and find M → integrate Eq.(3)

M2
2
M 2 1 dM
2 1 d (4)
1 2 M
1 M1 1 M
2

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 7

M- Relation

Perform integration of Eq.(4)

M2
1 1
2 1 tan 1 ( M 2 1) tan 1
M 2
1 (5)
1 1
M1

So, given M1 and

could solve for M2 from Eq.(5)

Cannot invert Eq.(5) analytically [M2 = f(M1, )]

− either use iterative method (numerical or guessing)

− or find as a function of M and tabularize or graph solution

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 8

 Prandtl-Meyer Function

Want to find = (M) for any M [e.g. 2 = (M2)]

− need to choose (arbitrary) reference condition, i.e., pick an M
where = 0 let’s choose = 0 at M = 1

Prandtl-Meyer 1 1
(M ) tan 1 ( M 2 1) tan 1 M 2 1 (6)
function 1 1
(Appendix E in John&Keith / Appendix C in Anderson)

represents angle through which a sonic flow would have to

turn to reach M

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 9

Summary

To find M2, given M1 and

− find 1 (for given M1) from table
− get 2 from = 2 – 1 → 2 = + 1

− look up 2 in table to find M2

To find flow properties at downstream (p2, T2, 2, …)

− use isentropic relations since flow across expansion fan is
isentropic (no shock) [T0 and p0 are constant]
/( 1)
T2 T0,1 / T1 1 ( 1) / 2 M 12 p2 p0,1 / p1 1 ( 1) / 2 M 12
(7)
T1 T0,2 / T2 1 ( 1) / 2 M 22 p1 p 0, 2 / p 2 1 ( 1) / 2 M 22

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 10

 Example

Given: Uniform Mach 2 flow of

air at 300K over compound wall
corner with two turns, 20 and 6

Find: M and T after turn

Assume: Perfect gas with =1.4,

steady, adiabatic, no work, inviscid

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 11

Example (cont.)

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 12

 Prandtl-Meyer Fan Angle

Fan angle, :
− angle between first and last Mach
wave
− useful to determine when expansion
has ended in flow field for a given
distance away from wall

From geometry Fan angle 1 ( 2 )

( 1 2) (8)

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 13

Maximum Turn Angle

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 14

 Prandtl-Meyer Turns at High M

01215341 Fundamentals of Aerodynamics I Lecture 6 15