Induced Aerodynamics of Wrap-Around Fins Using an Empirical Technique

Abstract

An empirical expression has been derived from wind-tunnel test data that can be used to predict the induced aerodynamics of a wrap-around fin in supersonic flow. The expression correlates an induced angle-of-attack to the fin geometric parameters and the free-stream Mach number. This empirical expression, coupled with a modified form of supersonic fin theory to account for fin curvature, can be used to accurately and rapidly predict the induced pressure distribution over a wrap-around fin. In addition, the wind-tunnel test setup has been numerically reproduced using a NASA CFD code, Overflow. The results show a test setup that can be reproduced numerically which both confirms data quality and opens the door for future numerical work that can be used to improve the empirical correlation by cost effectively investigating body and fin root protuberance effects.