Supersonic and Hypersonic Flight Dynamics Realization for the Spaceliner Real-Time Human-In-the-Loop Space Flight Simulator

Abstract

Objectives: DLR’s real-time Human-in-the-Loop Space Flight Simulator needed an enhancement in its transonic and supersonic behavior for its advanced concept of a suborbital, hypersonic, winged passenger transport called SpaceLiner. Methods/Statistical analysis: A simulation model has been developed by geometry modeled flight dynamics for the commercial flight simulation software “X-Plane”. The presented solution is based on a real-time flight dynamics corrector application, taking table-based aerodynamic coefficients from Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model experiments to overwrite X-Plane’s internal flight dynamics in the supersonic and hypersonic regime. Findings: Although compressible flow effects are considered using Prandtl-Glauert, the SpaceLiner X-Plane simulation model needed deeper investigation in its transonic and supersonic behavior, taking into account that transonic effects in X-Plane only refer to an empirical mach-divergent drag increase and the airfoil becomes an appropriate thickness ratio diamond shape under supersonic conditions. Whereas the X-Plane internal flight simulation engine delivers a high level of realism under subsonic conditions, significant deviations from the SpaceLiner aerodynamic reference database were identified in the supersonic and hypersonic regimes. An improved accuracy could be observed for two Mach test cases under corrector application usage conditions. Using X-Plane on the one hand and covering a constant accuracy throughout the whole range of regimes, subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic on the other hand, can be achieved by using the presented corrector application solution. Application/Improvements: X-Plane’s wireframe model approach was successfully fused with table-based lookup processing, delivering a constant high level of realism throughout the whole Mach range.