This paper presents an investigation of water-impact characteristics of a space capsule model with various initial pitching angles using an in-house smoothed particle hydrodynamics solver. By solving the governing equations coupled with six degree-of-freedom equations, the strong interaction between the space capsule and water is properly modeled with the kinematic dynamics and hydrodynamics accurately captured. The ditching events of the capsule model with different initial pitching angles were simulated, the computation of which was set up based on a time-step-size refinement study with results compared to documented experimental data. The well-agreed-upon results indicate that the initial pitching angle had a noticeable effect on both the normal and longitudinal loads due to the specific geometric characteristics and the appearance of a negative pressure region and that the accelerations became and remained a steady value when the initial pitching angle exceeded 33 deg. In this case, the pressure distribution on the belly of the capsule was also apparently influenced during water impact, which was demonstrated by two different trend of loads. One is that the smaller the initial angle, the higher the pressure to which the probe points were subject, and the other is that the maximum value of pressure experienced increasing and changed to decreasing later. Also, a noticeable nosedown pitching and a significant splashing jet caused by the impact of the capsule leading edge on the water were demonstrated particularly.
Pitching Angle on Space Capsule Water Landing Using Smooth Particle Hydrodynamic Method
Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets ; 54 , 3 ; 743-754
2017-04-12
12 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Pitching Angle on Space Capsule Water Landing Using Smooth Particle Hydrodynamic Method
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