Nswc hypervelocity tunnel 9 upgrade to produce flight duplication at mach 7 for use in endo-atmospheric interceptor testing

摘要

A Mach 7 flight duplication capability was developed at the Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel NO. 9 (Tunnel 9) located at the While Oak, Maryland site of the Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center. The objective of the new Mach 7 upgrade was to produce a clean aerodynamic flowfield that duplicates flight conditions at approximately Mach 7, for altitudes of approximately 36 kft to 82 kft. This facility modeification was accomplished by taking the unique high pressure and temperature capabilities of the Tunnel 9 Mach 14 supply heater and expanding the flow through a Mach 7 nozzle. This facility enhancement provides the capability to test the critical saerothermal and structureal effects asociated iwth low altitude, high velocity interceptors currently being developed by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. Facility run times on the order of interceptor unshrouded end game times, approximately 3 to 6 seconds, at full flight duplication, will provide the thermal exposure needed for seeker window testing. This paper summarizes the facility development effort.