Fluid-Structure Modeling and Simulation of a Modified KC-135 Icing Tanker Boom

Abstract

The objective of this study is to build a physics-based computational model of the Airborne Icing Tanker (AIT) boom system to provide an aeroelastic modeling and simulation (M&S) capability to complement flight test. The AIT boom system is a KC-135R aircraft with a modified high-speed aerial refueling tanker boom and icing array. The ground vibration test (GVT) results of the AIT boom system are used to validate a finite element (FE) structural model via comparison of mode shapes and frequencies. An aerodynamic evaluation of two array designs is also presented. This approach can be used to evaluate future array designs and provide array stability information prior to wind-tunnel and flight tests once validated.

Numerical Predictions of Static-Pressure-Error Corrections for a Modified T-38C Aircraft

“…The modeling and simulation efforts presented in this work make use of the unstructured node-centered finite-volume-based [14][15][16][17] compressible flow solver AERO-F, which is a major module of the multiphysics AERO Suite of Codes by CMSoft, Inc. [18] employed in related USAF aeroelastic-simulation research [19][20][21][22]. The outer mold line of the standard T-38C aircraft is modified with the testboom geometry based on measurements of the test T-38C aircraft.…”