Surrogate-Based Multi-objective Aerothermodynamic Design Optimization of Hypersonic Spiked Bodies

Introduction

Among various design requirements, reducing both drag and aerodynamic heating is the most crucial in the design of hypersonic vehicles. Pointed slender bodies generate lower drag compared with blunt bodies at hypersonic conditions. Hence, they provide a good choice as far as drag reduction is concerned. On the other hand, blunt bodies were found to yield lower heating levels compared with their pointed counterparts [1]. In fact, hypersonic vehicles such as missiles, interplanetary space missions, space planes, and launch missiles usually have blunt shapes [1],[2]. Obviously, designing a vehicle that simultaneously satisfies both minimum drag and aerodynamic heating is not straightforward and there is a challenging trade-off between these two vital requirements. However, it is believed that these two requirements can be met by altering the flowfield pattern around the blunt body so as to eliminate the strong detached bow shock wave. A variety of techniques have been implemented in this regard [1] but the use of spikes proved to be the simplest and the most effective technique in reducing both drag and aerodynamic heating [3].