1. Aerodynamic study of the NASA’s X-43A hypersonic aircraft
- Author
-
Àlex Navó, Josep M. Bergada, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament de Mecànica de Fluids, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. MICROTECH LAB - Microtechnology for the Industry, and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. TUAREG - Turbulence and Aerodynamics in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Research Group
- Subjects
Computer science ,Avions no tripulats ,02 engineering and technology ,Computational fluid dynamics ,lcsh:Technology ,01 natural sciences ,010305 fluids & plasmas ,lcsh:Chemistry ,Physics::Fluid Dynamics ,Aerodinàmica ,0203 mechanical engineering ,Dinàmica de gasos ,General Materials Science ,lcsh:QH301-705.5 ,Instrumentation ,Ones de xoc ,compressible flow ,Drone aircraft ,Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes ,Lift-to-drag ratio ,020301 aerospace & aeronautics ,Compressible flow ,Angle of attack ,General Engineering ,Aerodynamics ,Aeronàutica i espai::Aerodinàmica [Àrees temàtiques de la UPC] ,Avions supersònics ,lcsh:QC1-999 ,Computer Science Applications ,Hypersonic flow ,Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) ,symbols ,Oblique shock ,Pitching moment ,aerodynamics ,Prandtl-Meyer expansion waves ,hypersonic flow ,Supersonic planes ,Shock waves ,symbols.namesake ,0103 physical sciences ,Aerodynamics, Hypersonic ,Aerodinàmica hipersònica ,X-43A (Hypersonic plane) ,Scramjet ,Aerospace engineering ,X-43A ,lcsh:T ,business.industry ,Process Chemistry and Technology ,Dinàmica de fluids computacional ,computational fluid dynamics (CFD) ,Oblique shock waves ,lcsh:Biology (General) ,lcsh:QD1-999 ,Mach number ,lcsh:TA1-2040 ,Gas dynamics ,lcsh:Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,business ,lcsh:Physics ,Enginyeria mecànica::Mecànica de fluids [Àrees temàtiques de la UPC] - Abstract
A 2D aerodynamic study of the NASA&rsquo, s X-43A hypersonic aircraft is developed using two different approaches. The first one is analytical and based on the resolution of the oblique shock wave and Prandtl&ndash, Meyer expansion wave theories supported by an in-house program and considering a simplified aircraft&rsquo, s design. The second approach involves the use of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) package, OpenFOAM and the real shape of the aircraft. The aerodynamic characteristics defined as the lift and drag coefficients, the aerodynamic efficiency and the pitching moment coefficient are calculated for different angles of attack. Evaluations are made for an incident Mach number of 7 and an altitude of 30 km. For both methodologies, the required angles of attack to achieve a Vertical Force Balance (VFB) and a completely zero pitching moment conditions are considered. In addition, an analysis to optimise the nose configuration of the aircraft is performed. The mass flow rate throughout the scramjet as a function of the angle of attack is also presented in the CFD model in addition to the pressure, density, temperature and Mach fields. Before presenting the corresponding results, a comparison between the aerodynamic coefficients in terms of the angle of attack of both models is carried out in order to properly validate the CFD model. The paper clarifies the requirements needed to make sure that both oblique shock waves originating from the leading edge meet just at the scramjet inlet clarifying the advantages of fulfilling such condition.
- Published
- 2022