Numerical study of combustion effects on the development of supersonic turbulent mixing layer flows with WENO schemes

•The PPWENO schemes are extended to preserve the positivity of species mass fraction.•High fidelity 3D LES of a supersonic turbulent combustion mixing layer is conducted.•The decreasing mechanism of the growth rate due to combustion effects is found.•A new momentum thickness definition suitable for space-developing frame is given.•The relation between growth rate and Reynolds stress is re-evaluated.