Aerodynamic Analysis of a High Maneuverability Airframe Utilizing Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulations

Abstract

Experiments in water-facilities were conducted on a geometrically scaled, 81-mm diameter, fin-stabilized projectile, to validate numerical simulations. Experiments in a water channel (Stanford) used magnetic resonance velocimetry (MRV) to obtain fully 3D velocity measurements to observe and measure canard tip vortices interacting with the projectile’s tail-fins. Canards were deflected to 2° in a roll configuration. Experiments in the water tunnel (AFRL) were conventional force/moment and flow visualization, using a larger facility with lower blockage. Canards were deflected to 2° in a roll and pitch configuration in addition to the non-deflected case. The force and moment data were collected over a large range of angles of attack, while the MRV model only considered angles of attack of 0 and 2 degrees due to geometric limitations. Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations produced similar results to those of the MRV. The MRV, flow visualization, and RANS results indicate that the HMA at 2° canard deflection and 2° projectile angle of attack causes significant tip vortex formation, which reaches the leading edge of the fins, which has previously been shown to cause degradation in projectile controllability.

Description

Keywords

Magnetic Resonance, Velocimetry, Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes, Airframes, Leading Edges, Vortex Strength, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Lift Coefficient, Air Force Research Laboratory, Freestream Velocity

Citation

Eric Youn, Alexander Waugh, Zachary Livingston, Michael Benson, Bret Van Poppel, Claire VerHulst, Michael V. Ol, Albert Medina, Sidra I. Silton and Christopher Elkins. "Aerodynamic Analysis of a High Maneuverability Airframe Utilizing Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulations," AIAA 2017-1662. 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting. January 2017.