Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: terryh@ukcsd.uk (Terry Heatlie - Sun UK - Tech Support )
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Scramjets
Keywords: scramjet external flow combustion hypersonic
Message-ID: <1990Nov29.004255.20953@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 29 Nov 90 00:42:55 GMT
References: <1990Nov20.021943.27530@cbnews.att.com> <1990Nov21.222433.21259@cbnews.att.com> <1990Nov27.045213.4141@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: Sun Microsystems (UK)
Lines: 28
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: terryh@ukcsd.uk (Terry Heatlie - Sun UK - Tech Support )

In article <1990Nov27.045213.4141@cbnews.att.com>,
ntaib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Nur Iskandar Taib) writes:
|> 
|> *>It's a semi-acronym, standing for "supersonic-combustion ramjet". 
Orthodox

As mentioned above, one of the problems with engines which work under
hypersonic flow conditions is the heating which occurs decelerating
the air prior to combustion.  The concept in the illustration is an
attempt to solve this problem by integrating the propulsion system
and the aerodynamics of the craft.  One can derive thrust from an external
flow (ie the air flow over the vehicle) just like from an internal flow
(eg that through a conventional jet engine).  As I recall, the idea was to 
add energy to the flow under the body of the vehicle, which would be compressed
by shock waves, this would seem to tie up with the channels under the wing.
The external flow would not slow down very much, and so the heating effect 
would not be so great as in an internal flow.

For what its worth, the people who were interested in hypersonic vehicles while
I was at University (say 5 years ago) all thought external combustion was the
way to go.

REgards,
Terry Heatlie.