Current grid-generation strategies and future requirements in hypersonic vehicle design, analysis and testing

Abstract

Recent advances in computational power enable computational fluid dynamic modeling of increasingly complex configurations. A review of grid-generation methodologies implemented in support of the computational work performed for the X-38 (Experimental Crew Return Vehicle) and X-33 hypersonic vehicles are presented. In strategizing topological constructs and blocking structures, the factors considered are geometric configuration, optimal grid size, numerical algorithms, accuracy requirements, physics of the problem at hand, computational expense and available computer hardware. Also addressed are grid-refinement strategies, the effect of wall spacing and convergence. The significance of grids is demonstrated through a comparison of computational and experimental results of the aeroheating environment experienced by the X-38 vehicle. Special topics on grid-generation strategies are also addressed to model control surface deflections and material mapping.