Finned, multibody aerodynamic interference at transonic Mach numbers

Abstract

A wind tunnel experiment involving single, double, and triple combinations of mutually interfering, generic, finned aircraft stores has been conducted. Each combination of stores was tested at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 1.20, at angles of attack from 0 to 20 deg for the single store, and from 0 to 10 deg for the double- and triplestore configurations. Extensive body and fin pressure and flow visualization data were obtained at each store location. The data indicate that finned, multibody interference (measured on the body) in the transonic region seems to be greatest at Mach numbers near 1, and subsides as the freestream Mach number increases or decreases from sonic conditions. Although somewhat dependent on fin orientation, the inboard fins seem to experience greater multibody interference at M^ = 0.60 than at Mach numbers closer to 1. An Euler solution for the doublestore configuration (x fin orientation) at A/^ = 0.95, 0 deg angle of attack was generated and compared with these data. The generally good correlation indicates that an Euler flow solver can yield accurate predictions of the location and magnitude of multibody interference on both the body and the fins, provided the viscous effects associated with these configurations remain small.