The rolling moment characteristics of a launch vehicle (LV) arising out of joining an air-breathing cruise vehicle (CV) and a booster is investigated through CFD to explain experimental observed behaviour. The launch vehicle has a stabilising fin at the rear and is placed on bearing to have free roll with respect to body. The basic and control rolling moment of LV (without stabilising fin, to mimic freely rolling fin), obtained experimentally, is compared with the corresponding experimental data for CV and found that the values differ, contrary to that observed in literature. CFD is used to investigate the reason for this difference. Investigation in two representative Mach numbers 0.8 (subsonic) and 2.0 (supersonic), has revealed that the interstage flare in LV, has significant effect in modifying the rolling moment contribution of the CV fin. Apart from that, the booster attachment arm, launch shoes are also having some impact in modifying the rolling moment. It is evident that for a canard controlled vehicle, even if the stabilising fin is freely rolling, the after-body geometry has significant effect in dictating the aerodynamic characteristics, especially rolling moment.
Investigation of the Effect of Booster Attachment Scheme on the Rolling Moment Characteristics of an Asymmetric Vehicle Using CFD
Lect.Notes Mechanical Engineering
Design and Development of Aerospace Vehicles and Propulsion Systems ; Kapitel : 32 ; 433-443
2021-03-19
11 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch