Unsteady Sonic Aerodynamics Using Acceleration Potential Approach

Abstract

Renewed interest in the sonic box method is prompted by the possibility of near-sonic flights. For aeroelastic applications, the sonic box methods however would be limited by their applicability. They are based on a velocity-potential formulation, thus the wake domain must be modeled for planforms with swept trailing edges or for multiple lifting surfaces; their non-planar lifting surface application has not been demonstrated, nor has its flutter applicability; their extensions for bodies remain unexplored. To this end, an unsteady sonic methodology employing sonic accelerationpotential (ZSAP) for multiple lifting surfaces (wings) and sonic source velocity-potential for bodies has been developed. The present unsteady sonic method ZSAP is recognized as the sonic counterpart of our previous development of the unsteady subsonic and supersonic wing-body methods. It is shown that ZSAP is an expedient method for flutter/aeroelastic applications for wing-body configurations in the sonic/near-sonic Mach number range.