Key issues in hypersonic vehicle aerodynamic design

Abstract

Hypersonic vehicle is the key competitive equipment direction of world aerospace power, and its aerodynamic design faces multiple technical challenges. This paper focuses on three key technical issues related to the aerodynamic design of hypersonic vehicle, such as high lift-to-drag ratio aerodynamic configuration design, prediction method of the complicated physical effects in hypersonic flow around a body, and the ground-to-flight correlation of aerodynamic characteristics. Research progress is reviewed from the perspectives of the design method, prediction method, flow mechanism, and engineering applications. In terms of the aerodynamic design, the technical difficulties in the engineering realization of high lift-to-drag ratio waverider configuration such as loading space and longitudinal stability are analyzed. For the complex flow physics and prediction method, this paper summarizes the significance of key issues, including the boundary-layer transition, surface ablation, high-temperature real gas effect, and rarefied gas effect, in hypersonic vehicle aerodynamic design. Furthermore, the corresponding flow mechanisms and prediction methods are reviewed. With respect to research on ground-to-flight correlations, this paper analyzes the current bottlenecks and considers using artificial intelligence technology is a feasible way to make a breakthrough.