Star-Body Waveriders with Multiple Design Mach Numbers

Abstract

A new type of star-body waverider is presented that has multiple design Mach numbers. A limitation of typical waverider configurations is that they have a single design Mach number, where the shock wave is attached to all of its leading edges. At this design Mach number, there is no flow spillage and the static pressure on the compression surfaces is maximized. The center wedge sections of the new star bodies have different flow deflection angles corresponding to different design Mach numbers, thereby generating lift and side force that can be used for increased range and maneuver capability. A baseline Mach 6, conventional star body, an equivalent volume cone, and three multiple-design-Mach-number star bodies are analyzed using three-dimensional, full Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics for Mach numbers of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and an altitude of 100,000 ft. As expected, the conventional, single-design-Mach-number star body has higher skin-friction drag, lower wave drag, and lower total drag than the equivalent volume cone. Because the volumes of the multiple-design-Mach-number star bodies are greater than that of the cone, they have higher total drag than the cone, but the wave drag and drag coefficient are lower than the equivalent cone for some of the new configurations at higher Mach numbers. Before performing the analysis, it was assumed that the star body sectors at an on-design flow condition would have the greatest pressure levels. However, the computational fluid dynamics analysis showed that the star-body sectors with the maximum flow deflection (center wedge) angle produced the highest pressures, even at offdesign flow conditions, where three-dimensional effects and pressure loss due to detached shocks and flow spillage are present. The asymmetric, two-, and tripledesign-Mach-number star bodies produced lift that can be used for downrange and cross-range capability.

Design method of a new hypersonic waverider configuration

“…Rodi [14] 将相切锥乘波体生成方法扩展 至相切流场法, 每个相切面上的基准流场不再局限于 锥形流场, 而是按照设计需求沿展向位置选择不同的 幂指数, 大大拓展了相切锥乘波体的设计空间. 此外, 近年来研究者还提出了涡升力乘波体 [15] 、星式乘波 体 [16] 等新颖的乘波布局形式.…”

Numerical study on aerodynamic performance of waverider with a new bluntness method

“…The waverider configuration is widely used in hypersonic vehicles with its good lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic performance. 1–10 The waverider was first proposed by Nonweiler 11 in the 1950s. According to the given flow field, the configuration is designed by means of shock surface cutting and streamline tracing.…”

Modification impact on aerodynamic performance of hypersonic waverider

“…Currently, most researches focus on the design and optimisation of waverider. By joining several caret wing shapes together, Corda (18) presented a new type of star-body waverider with multiple design Mach numbers. The asymmetric, two and triple design Mach number star bodies produce lift that can be used for downrange and crossrange capability.…”