Experimental Investigation on the MHD Interaction in a Hypersonic Flow around a Blunt Body

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation on the effect of the MHD interaction in the plasma of the shock layer above a test body immersed into a hypersonic Argon flow. The hypersonic flow was obtained by means of the high-enthalpy arc-heated wind tunnel of Alta SpA at Mach 6 and Mach 15. An extensive activity was carried out in order to quantitatively characterize the weakly ionized free stream, for pressures in the range between 0.5 and 1.5 bar. Two different models, with embedded high strength magnets have been utilised: a sharp cone and a truncated-cone blunt body. The models are equipped with surface pressure measurement devices and electrostatic probes. Two geometrically identical, non magnetic models were used to compare results with and without MHD interaction. This paper will describe the experimental setup, the characterization activity, and the test campaign results. A short critical analysis on the obtained results will be also present including comparison with the past experiments conducted in Alta by the same team.