Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T13:33:25.006Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Investigation of aerodynamic coefficients at Mach 6 over conical, hemispherical and flat-face spiked body

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2017

R. Kalimuthu
Affiliation:
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum, India
R. C. Mehta*
Affiliation:
Noorul Islam University, Kumaracoil, India
E. Rathakrishnan
Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India

Abstract

A forward spike attached to a blunt body significantly alters its flow field characteristics and influences aerodynamic characteristics at hypersonic flow due to formation of separated flow and re-circulation region around the spiked body. An experimental investigation was performed to measure aerodynamic forces for spikes blunt bodies with a conical, hemispherical and flat-face spike at Mach 6 and at an angle-of-attack range from 0° to 8° and length-to-diameter L/D ratio of spike varies from 0.5 to 2.0, where L is the length of the spike and D is diameter of blunt body. The shape of the leading edge of the spiked blunt body reveals different types of flow field features in the formation of a shock wave, shear layer, flow separation, re-circulation region and re-attachment shock. They are analysed with the help of schlieren pictures. The shock distance ahead of the hemisphere and the flat-face spike is compared with the analytical solution and is showing satisfactory agreement with the schlieren pictures. The influence of geometrical parameters of the spike, the shape of the spike tip and angle-of-attack on the aerodynamic coefficients are investigated by measuring aerodynamic forces in a hypersonic wind tunnel. It is found that a maximum reduction of drag of about 77% was found for hemisphere spike of L/D = 2.0 at zero angle-of-attack. Consideration for compensation of increased pitching moment is required to stabilise the aerodynamic forces.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Hillji, E.R. and Nelson, R.L. Ascent air data system results from the space shuttle flight test program, NASA Langley Research Center, 8-10 March 1983, Hampton, VA, US, NASA CR 2283.Google Scholar
2. Mehta, R.C. and Jayachandran, T. Navier-Stokes solutions for a heat shield with and without forward facing spikes, Computers & Fluids, 1997, 26, (1), pp 741-754.Google Scholar
3. Mikhail, A.G. Spiked-nosed projectiles: Computations and dual flow modes in supersonic flight, J Spacecraft and Rockets, 1991, 28, (4), pp 418-424.Google Scholar
4. d'Humieres, G. and Stollery, J.L. Drag reduction on a spiked body at hypersonic speed, Aeronautical J, Feb. 2010, 114, (1152), pp 113-119.Google Scholar
5. Crawford, D.H. Investigation of the flow over a spiked-nose hemisphere at a mach number of 6.8, NASA TN-D 118, 1959.Google Scholar
6. Bogdonoff, S.M. and Vas, I.E. Preliminary investigations of spike bodies at hypersonic speeds, J Aerospace Sciences, 1959, 26, (2), pp 65-74.Google Scholar
7. Maull, D.J. Hypersonic flow over symmetric spiked bodies, J Fluid Mechanics, 1960, 8, pp 584-592.Google Scholar
8. Wood, C.J. Hypersonic flow over spiked cones, J Fluid Mechanics, 1962, 12, pp 614-624.Google Scholar
9. Chang, P.L. Separation of Flow, 1970, Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK, pp 469-525.Google Scholar
10. Kubota, H. Some aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic considerations for reusable launch vehicles, 34th AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, Fluid Dynamics, 28 June-1 July, 2004, Portland, Oregon, US, 2004, 2428.Google Scholar
11. Motoyama, N., Mihara, K., Miyajima, R., Watanuki, W. and Kubota, H. Thermal protection and drag reduction with use of spike in hypersonic flow, 10th AIAA/NAL-NASDA-ISAS International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies, Kyoto, Japan, AIAA Paper 2001-1828, 2001. Available at: https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/abs/10.2514/6.2001-1828.Google Scholar
12. Milicv, S.S., Pavlovic, M.D., Ristic, S. and Vitic, A. On the influence of spike shape at supersonic flow past blunt bodies, Faculty Universities, Series: Mechanics, Automatic Control and Robotic, 2001, 3, (12), pp 371-382.Google Scholar
13. Menezes, V., Saravanan, S., Jagadeesh, G. and Reddy, K.P.J. Experimental investigations of hypersonic flow over highly blunted cones with aerospikes, AIAA J, 2003, 41, (10), pp 1955-1966.Google Scholar
14. Kalimuthu, R., Mehta, R.C. and Rathakrishnan, E. Experimental investigation on spiked body in hypersonic flow, Aeronautical J, 2008, 112, (1136), pp 593-598.Google Scholar
15. Yamauchi, M., Fujjii, K., Tamura, Y. and Higashino, F. Numerical investigation of hypersonic flow around a spiked blunt body, AIAA 31st Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 11-14 January 1984, Reno, NV, US, AIAA paper 93-0887.Google Scholar
16. Mehta, R.C. Numerical simulation of the flow field over conical, disc and flat spiked body at Mach 6, The Aeronautical J, 2010, 114, (1154), pp 225-236.Google Scholar
17. Shoemaker, J.M. Aerodynamic spike flowfields computed to select optimum configuration at Mach 2.5 with experimental validation, 28th Aerospace Science Meeting, 8-11 January 1990, Reno, NV, US, AIAA Paper 90-0414.Google Scholar
18. Fujita, M. and Kubota, H. Numerical simulation of flowfield over a spiked blunt nose, Computational Fluid Dynamics J, 1992, 1, (2), pp 187-195.Google Scholar
19. Gerdroodbary, M.B. and Hosseinalipour, , S.M. Numerical simulation of hypersonic flow over highly blunted cones with spike, Acta Astronutica, 2010, 67, pp 180-193.Google Scholar
20. Mehta, R.C. Numerical analysis of pressure oscillations over axisymmetric spiked blunt bodies at Mach 6.8, Shock Waves, 2002, 11, pp 43-440.Google Scholar
21. Gauer, M. and Paull, A. Numerical investigation of a spiked nose cone at hypersonic speeds, J Spacecraft and Rockets, 2008, 45, (3), pp 459-471.Google Scholar
22. Ahmed, M.Y.M. and Qin, A. Drag reduction using aerodiscs for hypersonic hemispherical bodies, J Spacecraft and Rockets, 2010, 47, (1), pp 62-80.Google Scholar
23. Mehta, R.C. Heat transfer study of high speed over a spiked blunt body, Int J Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 2000, 10, (7), pp 750-769.Google Scholar
24. Ahmed, M.Y.M. and Qin, N. Recent advances in the aerothermodynamics of spiked hypersonic vehicles, Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 2011, 47, (6), pp 425-449.Google Scholar
25. Kalimuthu, R., Mehta, R.C. and Rathakrishnan, E. Pressure measurements over a hemisphere-cylinder body attached with a forward facing spike, Aeronautical J, June 2013, 117, (1192), pp 639-646.Google Scholar
26. Liepmann, H.W. and Roshko, A. Elements of Gas Dynamics, 1st South Asian Edition, 2007, Dover Publications Inc., New Delhi, India.Google Scholar
27. Truitt, R.W. Hypersonic Aerodynamic, 1959, Ronald Press Co., New York, New York, US.Google Scholar
28. Hayer, W.D. and Probstein, R.F. Hypersonic Flow Theory, 1959, Academic Press, New York, New York, US.Google Scholar
29. Probstein, R.F. Inviscid flow in the stagnation region of very blunt-nosed bodies at hypersonic flight speeds, September 1956, U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC, WADC TN 56-395.Google Scholar
30. Ames Research Staff. Equations, tables and charts for compressible flow, 1953, Moffett Field, CA, US, NACA report 1135.Google Scholar
31. Mehta, R.C. Numerical heat transfer study around a spiked blunt-nose body at Mach 6, Heat and Mass Transfer (Springer), April 2013, 49, (4), pp 485-496.Google Scholar