Unsteadiness of shock-boundary layer interactions in a Mach 2.0 supersonic turbine cascade

The physics of shock-boundary layer interactions (SBLIs) in a supersonic turbine cascade at Mach 2.0 and Reynolds number 395,000, based on the axial chord, is investigated through a wall-resolved large eddy simulation. Special attention is given to the characterization of the low-frequency dynamics of the separation bubbles using flow visualization, spectral analysis, space-time cross correlations, and flow modal decomposition. The mean flowfield shows different shock structures formed on both sides of the airfoil. On the suction side, an oblique shock impinges on the turbulent boundary layer, whereas a Mach reflection interacts with the pressure side boundary layer. The interactions taking place in the present turbine cascade show similarities and discrepancies with respect to more canonical cases. For example, the characteristic frequencies of the shock/bubble motions are comparable to those described in the literature of canonical cases. However, the suction side bubble leads to compression waves that do not coalesce into a separation shock, and a thin bubble forms on the pressure side despite the strong normal shock from the Mach reflection. Instantaneous flow visualizations illustrate elongated streamwise structures on the incoming boundary layers and their interactions with the shocks and separation bubbles. The space-time cross-correlations reveal that the near-wall streaks drive the motion of the suction side separation bubble, which in turn promotes oscillations of the reattachment shock and shear layer flapping. Organized motions in the SBLIs and their corresponding characteristic frequencies and spatial support are identified using proper orthogonal decomposition.