Aeroacoustic of the VEGA Launcher: Wind Tunnel Tests and Full Scale Extrapolations

Abstract

This work describes the main aspects of the extended experimental campaign aimed at the characterization of the aeroacoustic environment created by the external aerodynamics around the VEGA launcher, the expendable launch system developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). In the frame of the VEGA program, a collaboration between AVIO, CIRA and DIMI of University Roma 3 has been established for the evaluation of the pressure fluctuations on the launcher external surface in order to determine the vibro- acoustic loads on its structure. This issue is accomplished by extrapolating at full scales the results obtained on the test model by utilizing proper analytical models reproducing the main properties of the pressure fluctuations. The wall pressure fluctuation characterization was addressed through wind tunnel tests at transonic and supersonic flow conditions on a 1:30 scaled model. In the present paper a specific attention is focussed on the technical aspects and on the proposed analytical models for the full scale extrapolations and on the acoustic behaviour of the full scale launcher, while in the companion paper the aspects regarding the behaviour of the pressure wave at transonic flow conditions has been addressed.