US 12,420,915 B2
Systems and methods for producing traveling waves along surfaces exposed to supersonic fluid flows
Iman Borazjani, College Station, TX (US)
Assigned to The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US)
Filed by The Texas A & M University System, College Station, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 10, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/175,220.
Application 19/175,220 is a continuation of application No. 18/136,526, filed on Apr. 19, 2023, granted, now 12,296,944.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/332,598, filed on Apr. 19, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2025/0236384 A1, Jul. 24, 2025
Int. Cl. B64C 23/04 (2006.01); F02C 7/04 (2006.01); B64C 30/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 23/04 (2013.01) [F02C 7/04 (2013.01); B64C 30/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A jet engine in which a supersonic flow is encountered, the jet engine comprising:
an inlet for receiving an inlet airflow and defining an upstream end of the jet engine;
a combustor located downstream from the inlet for combusting at least some of the inlet airflow to produce an exhaust fluid flow;
a nozzle located downstream from the combustor and defining a downstream end of the jet engine, the nozzle receiving and accelerating the exhaust fluid flow;
a surface extending at least partially from the upstream end of the jet engine, through the combustor, and to the downstream end of the jet engine, the surface exposable to at least one of the inlet airflow and the exhaust fluid flow;
a wave generator coupled to the surface and comprising one or more actuators configured to selectably induce strain in the surface; and
a wave controller in signal communication with the wave generator, the wave controller comprising a processor and a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wave controller to:
activate the one or more actuators to induce one or more travelling waves along the surface.