Aerothermodynamics of Lifting-Body Configuration in Hypersonic Flow with Aerodisk at Nose

摘要

This paper presents the highlights of first-of-its-kind experimental application studies, carried out at Mach 7, on a scaled-down and simplified model of the derived delta configuration with a symmetric nose, of an X-33 vehicle, with the use of forward-facing aerodisks at its stagnation surface to assess their effectiveness on lifting bodies. The results, corroborating the improved and enhanced aerodynamic performance, with effective drag and heat transfer reduction, the introduction of spike for a lifting-body configuration, holds significant validity with that of the numerous researches, conducted in the past, on simple hemisphere-cylinder body, with a consideration needed for increased pitching-moment.