Abstract
The paper deals with the aerodynamic performance analysis of three reusable and unmanned flying laboratories designed to perform a return flight from low Earth orbit to provide experimental data in the framework of re-entry technologies. Several design approaches, ranging from low-order methods to computational fluid dynamics analyses, have been addressed in this work. In particular, vehicles aerodynamic performances for a wide range of free stream flow conditions, from subsonic to hypersonic regime, including reacting and non-reacting flow and different angles of attack have been provided and in some cases compared. Computational fluid dynamics results confirm that real gas effects seem to be fundamental for the assessment of the concept aerodynamics, especially concerning pitching moment evaluation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ph. Tran, J.C. Paulat, and P. Boukhobza, “Re-entry Flight Experiments Lessons Learned — The Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator ARD”. RTO-EN-AVT-130.
A. Schettino, R. Votta, P. Roncioni, M. Di Clemente, M. Gerritsma, C. Chiarelli, D. Ferrarella, “Aerodynamic and Aerothermodynamic Data Base of Expert Capsule” Proceedings of the West-East High Speed Flow Field Conference; 19–22 Nov 2007, Moscow, Russia.
S. Paris, D. Charbonnier, D. Tran, “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Aerothermal Characteristics of The IXV Hypersonic Vehicle. Paper presented at the 7th European Symposium on Aerothermodynamics for Space Vehicles. Brugge, May 9 — 12, 2011.
G. Pezzella, G. Marino, G. Rufolo, “Aerodynamic Database Development of the ESA Intermediate Experimental Vehicle”. Acta Astronautica, DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.07.019. Volume (94): Issue (1). January-February 2014. ISSN (0094-5765): pag.(57-72).
A. Viviani, G. Pezzella, “Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of an Unmanned Re-Entry Vehicle from Hypersonic down to Subsonic Regime”. Proceedings of the 63rd International Astronautical Congress, Naples, Italy. IAC-12-D2.3.4. 2012.
A. Viviani, G. Pezzella, “Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of Three Different Vehicle Concepts at Hypersonic Speed”, Proceedings of the XXII Conference of Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 9–12 September 2013. Naples, Italy. Paper 74.
“Aerodynamic Problems of Hypersonic Vehicles”, AGARD Lecture Series No. 42; AGARD-LS-42. Vol.1.
A. Schettino, G. Pezzella, et al., “Mission Trade-off Analysis of the Italian USV Reentry Flying Test Bed”, Proceedings of the 14th AIAA-AHI Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference; 6–9 Nov 2006, Canberra, (Australia); paper AIAA-2006-8017.
A. Schettino, G. Pezzella, et al., “Aero-thermal Trade-off Analysis of the Italian USV Re-entry Flying Test Bed”, Proceedings of the 14th AIAA-AHI Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference; 6–9 Nov 2006, Canberra, (Australia); paper AIAA-2006-8114.
G. Pezzella, F. Battista, A. Schettino, et al., “Hypersonic Aerothermal Environment Preliminary Definition of the CIRA FTB-X Reentry Vehicle”, Proceedings of the West-East High Speed Flow Field Conference; 19–22 Nov 2007, Moscow, Russia.
J. D. Anderson, Hypersonic and High Temperature Gas Dynamics, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1989.
G. Pezzella, M. Marini, P. Roncioni, J. Kauffmann, C. Tomatis. Preliminary Design of Vertical Takeoff Hopper Concept of Future Launchers Preparatory Program. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets 2009. ISSN 0022-4650 vol.46 no.4 (788–799) doi: 10.2514/1.39193.
J. J. Bertin, “Hypersonic Aerothermodynamics”, AIAA Education Series.
D.K. Prabhu, System design constraints — Trajectory aerothermal environments, in: RTO AVT/VKI Lecture Series in Critical Technologies for Hypersonic Vehicle Development, May 10–14, 2004.
G. Pezzella R. Gardi G. Guidotti, C. Richiello, “Aerodynamic and Aerothermodynamic Trade-off Analysis of the Italian USV2 Flying Test Bed in the Framework of an Hypersonic Flight Test”. Proceeding of 3rd International ARA Days. 2–4 May 2011. Arcachon. France. AA-1-2011-54.
D.J. Kinney “Aero-thermodynamics for conceptual design”, Proceedings of the 42nd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, NV, USA, January 5–8, 2004, AIAA-2004-31.
D.J. Kinney, “Aerodynamic shape optimization of hypersonic vehicles”, Proceedings of the 44th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, NV, USA, January 9–12, 2006, AIAA-2006-239.
E. Bonner, W. Clever, K Dunn, “Aerodynamic Preliminary Analysis System II Part I- Theory”, NASA Contractor Report 182076. April 1991.
G. Pezzella, “Aerodynamic and Aerothermodynamic Trade-off Analysis of a Small Hypersonic Flying Test Bed”. Acta Astronautica. Volume 69 Issue 3–4. pp. 209–222. ISSN (0094-5765) doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2011.03.004. (2011).
G. Pezzella, “Aerodynamic and Aerothermodynamic design of Future Launchers Preparatory Program Concepts”. Aerospace Science and Technology, Volume 23, Issue 1, pp 233–249. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2011.07.011. (2012).
G. Pezzella, “Hypersonic Aerothermal Environment Assessment of the CIRA FTB-X Reentry Vehicle”. Aerospace Science and Technology, Volume 25, Issue 1, pp. 190–202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2012.01.007. (2013).
C. Park, “Review of Chemical Kinetic Problems of Future NASA Missions: Earth Entries”. Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer Vol. 7. No 3. 1993.
M. Maughmer, L. Ozoroski, D. Straussfogel, L. Long, “Vali-dation of engineering methods for predicting hypersonic ve-hicle control forces and moments”, AIAA Journal of Guid-ance, Control, and Dynamics 16 (4) (July-August 1993).
M. Moore, J. Williams, “Aerodynamic prediction rationale for analyses of hypersonic configurations”, Proceedings of the 27th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Reno, NV, USA, January 9–12, 1989, AIAA-89-0525.
G. Pezzella, E. Filippone and M. Serpico, “Re-entry Aerodynamics and Aerothermodynamics Analyses of the Flying Test Bed USV-X in the Framework of a High Lift Return”, Proceeding of 16th AIAA/DLR/DGLR International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference, AIAA 2009-7425, 2009.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Viviani, A., Pezzella, G. Aerodynamic performance analysis of three different vehicle concepts. Aerotec. Missili Spaz. 96, 16–31 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404734
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404734