International Journal of Innovative Research in Computer Science and Technology (IJIRCST)
ISSN (Online): 2347-5552, Volume-13, Issue-3, May 2025
https:/doi.org/10.55524/ijircst.2025.13.3.24
Article ID IJIRE-1404, Pages 162-178
www.ijircst.org
Innovative Research Publication 162
Multi-Regime CFD Optimization of Diverter-less Supersonic
Intake Bump Geometry for Enhanced Engine Pressure Recovery
Muhammad Ali
1
, Haroon Saqlain Khan
2
, Mudasir Ghafoor
3
, and Saad Mujtaba
4
1
Graduate Researcher, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, Canada
2
Graduate Researcher, Department of Materials Engineering, School of Chemicals & Materials Engineering, National,
University of Science & Technology, Pakistan.
3
Graduate Researcher, Department of Aerospace, College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE), National University of
Science & Technology, Pakistan.
4
Independent Researcher, Aerospace Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence should be addressed to Muhammad Ali
Received 19 April 2025; Revised 3 May 2025; Accepted 18 May 2025
Copyright © 2025 Made Muhammad Ali et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ABSTRACT- Aircraft intake plays a vital role in overall
performance of the aircraft. Purpose of intake is to supply
less turbulent and smooth flow to the engine. It must
provide maximum pressure recovery for a wide range of
operating conditions. Conventional ramp intakes have
been used in many older and few modern fighter aircraft
(F4 Phantom II, Mig 21, Mig 27, Mirage 2000 & F-14
Tomcat). However, DSI (Diverter Less Supersonic Intake)
were used in modern aircraft (JF -17 Block 3, F- 35 & J -
20). Weight, complexity & maintenance cost can be
reduced using DSI compared in comparison to the
conventional intake. Furthermore, DSI provides higher
pressure recovery, lesser boundary layer & less complex
geometry. The aim of this research is to model different
bump configurations and carry out their CFD analysis in
order to establish high performing configuration of DSI air
intakes at subsonic & supersonic regimes. Four bump
configurations named as smaller, softer, blunter and
original bump were modelled in ANSYS at three different
speed regimes (Mach No 0.6, 0.95 & 1.5) & comparison
was drawn for each type of DSI bump configuration & it
was found that pressure recovery of DSI of all four
configuration is approximately same in subsonic regions
whereas for transonic regime (Mach 0.95) DSI smaller has
highest pressure recovery value of 0.868 & supersonic
regime bump original has highest pressure recovery value
of 0.779. This shows that smaller & smoother bump intake
configuration will provide maximum pressure recovery
and its position into the air intake is crucial for the pressure
recovery.
KEYWORDS- CFD, Supersonic Intake, Bump
Geometry,Engine Pressure Recovery
I. INTRODUCTION
Primary function of the air intakes is to ensure smooth
flow to the engine despite of air approaching the aircraft
from direction other than straight ahead. Normally the
design point of the compressor is set at about half of the
speed of sound (M=0.5) hence the flow has to accelerate
at flight speed lower than this (M<0.5) to match the design
point. In the very same way flow has to decelerates at
flight speed higher than the design point (M>0.5). Due to
these reasons the internal profile of the inlet duct has to
accommodate both accelerating and decelerating flows
without any undue losses. [1]. The design of subsonic inlet
duct is somewhat easier than supersonic aircraft. The
reason is that in subsonic aircraft, the inlet faces only
subsonic regime and the phenomenon of shock waves and
distortion are neglected completely. The design of the
supersonic inlet is quite complex and time consuming
keeping in view the concept of shock waves generation. In
supersonic aircraft, the inlets have different features which
exploit the process of shock wave generation to slow down
the flow velocity. The air slows down from supersonic to
subsonic through shock waves and then from subsonic to
engine design point through the inlet duct (Diffuser). A
particular system of inlet is chosen keeping in view
different constraint such as type of aircraft, cost, time, and
operational needs to minimize frictional and shockwaves
losses which in turn maximizes the pressure recovery at
the compressor. A good intake design is characterized by
providing high pressure recovery and low distortion.
Therefore, it is essential to divert as much of the boundary
layer as possible since it is a factor which affect the quality
of the airflow. Pressure recovery is defined as the ratio of
total pressure at the engine face and intake face. In other
words, it is the average total pressure at the engine face,
Aerodynamic Interface Plane (AIP) divided by the free
stream total pressure. For engines that are integrated with
the body, for example on fighter aircraft, the airflow is
travelling along the body of the aircraft before it reaches
the air intake. A boundary layer builds up along the body
which is not desirable, especially in the part of the flow
that supplies the engines. Thus, in order to reduce the
boundary layer thickness of air flow intake towards the air
intakes the flow separation along with the body of aircraft
from nose till the air intakes is requires to be optimized or
the air intakes are required to be designed in a shape to
cater for this flow separation and maximize the pressure
recovery at the engine compressor. As shown in figure 1
the pressure recovery is reduced because of this boundary