Studies on Stagnation Flow of a Partially Ionized Gas

Abstract

A nonequilibrium, partially ionized stagnation point flow of a biased blunt-body in a supersonic flow is described. Electron temperature distribution from a free stream to wall has been computed for the case where electrons are in thermal nonequilibrium with heavy particles in the free stream. Immediately behind a detached shock, the solution of electron temperature in inviscid and boundary layers has been matched with that in the free stream, by using the relation for the jump of the electron temperature gradient across the shock. The method of matching is described. The effect of wall potential on the electron temperature distribution has been investigated, and a current-potential characteristic has been obtained.