Store Separation Analysis of a Fighter Aircraft's External Fuel Tank

Abstract

The repetitive vibrating action of an aerodynamic load causes an external fuel tank's horizontal fin to experience a shorter life cycle than its originally predicted one. Store separation analysis is needed to redesign the fin of an external fuel tank. In this research, free-drop tests were conducted using 15% scaled models in a subsonic wind tunnel in order to analyze the store separation characteristics of an external fuel tank. The store separation trajectory based on grid tests was also obtained to verify the results of the free-drop tests. The results acquired from the free-drop tests correlated well with the grid tests in regards to the trajectories and behavior of the stores separated from the aircraft. This agreement was especially noted in the early stages of the store separation.