Characterization of the flowfield near a wrap-around fin at Mach 2.8

1997, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. The Navier-Stokes equations have been solved in the vicinity of a single wrap-around fin mounted on a semicylindrical body with the objective of quantifying the flow structure in the region near the fin/body juncture(M=2.8, Re/l=18l06/m). The algebraic eddy viscosity model of Baldwin and Lomax was employed. Correlation with experimental data suggests that the calculations have captured the flow physics involved in this complicated flowfleld. The current research is part of a larger investigation of possible sources of a rolling moment reversal observed at high speeds in sub-scale flight tests. The calculations, corroborated by experimental results, indicate that a vortex exists in the fin/body juncture region on the convex side of the fin. This juncture vortex, dominated by viscous phenomena, greatly effects the pressure loading on the fin near Uie root. Changes in this vortex structure may contribute to the experimentally observed rolling moment reversal at higher supersonic speeds.

Characterization of the flowfield near a wrap-around fin at Mach 2.8 Conference Paper