Effect of an Applied Magnetic Field on Blunt Body Plasma Flow

An attempt is made to estimate feasibility of the MHD control of external plasma flows. The supersonic longitudinal weakly ionized plasma flow is studied about a cylinder with conical and spherical heads and a coaxial induction coil inside. A way of local increase of the plasma electric conductivity by electric discharge on the body head is considered. It is shown that at parameters under study the Joule heat release is a predominant factor influencing on the flow structure. Effect of the Joule heat release in the case of rotating “electric arc” is analyzed and spatial structure of the flow is investigated.