Waverider Aerodynamics and Preliminary Design for Two-Stage-to-Orbit Missions, Part 1

Abstract

The influence of the planform shape of osculating cones waveriders on the aerodynamic behavior with respect to the longitudinal motion is discussed. The inviscid flowfield around the configurations is simulated along the complete trajectory of an airbreathing two-stage-to-orbit system based on the solution of the Euler equations. Grid refinement studies, as well as wind-tunnel results, are presented to demonstrate the validation and accuracy of the code. Furthermore, special attention is drawn to the fluid-structure interaction with respect to the heating of the leading edge under hypersonic flight conditions. It is found that the modification of a gothic planform toward combined forebody-delta wing planforms allows a significant improvement of the aeordynamic efficiency L/D in sub- and transonic flows. In addition, the longitudinal stability is increased without compromising the favorable high-speed qualities. These benefits are partly diminished by an increasing neutral point shift along the trajectory. In Part 2 (Heinze, W., and Bardenhagen, A., Waverider Aerodynamics and Preliminary Design for Two-Stage-to Orbit Missions, Part 2, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 35, No. 4, 1998, pp. 459-466), the impact of the aerodynamic effects on the integrated design and performance of a waverider-based two-stage.to-orbit system is presented.