DES for UCAV Weapon Bay Flow

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the Detached–Eddy Simulation approach for the computation of flows around uninhabited combat air vehicles. This new family of aircraft may feature weapon bays to enhance stealth characteristics and improve aerodynamic performance. However, during operation with the bay open, a highly energetic flow-field develops that can dramatically change the aerodynamics of the aircraft. For this reason detailed CFD analyses are needed to provide insight in the change of loads encountered when weapon bays are exposed. In contrast to previous studies where idealised, isolated cavities are used as model problems, a realistic aircraft geometry is used in this work.