Numerical Simulation Over Flat-Disk Aerospike at Mach 6

Abstract

Hypersonic missiles combine the speed of ballistic missiles along with the accuracy and maneuverability of cruise missiles. By traveling at hypersonic speed in the atmosphere, blunt nose of missile experiences great surface heating and a large amount of drag. This drag force can be minimized by implementing a structure known as aerospike. This spike is attached in front of the body that significantly changes the flow field and manipulates aerodynamic drag at hypersonic speeds. In the current paper, the effect of implementation a flat-disk aerospike for various L/D (Length to Diameter) ratios is investigated by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The CFD analysis is performed to study the effect of drag, lift and pitching moment coefficient onto the blunt body with and without implementation of an aerospike. However, the addition of a flat-disk aerospike in front of the blunt body has an advantage for the reduction in drag subjected to angle of attack but increase in pitching moment has to be taken into consideration.