Aerodynamic modeling and assessment of flaps for hypersonic trajectory control of blunt bodies

Independently articulated aerodynamic flaps on a blunt-body entry vehicle may provide a feasible alternative to current state-of-the-art bank-angle steering control while introducing additional benefits during entry, descent, and landing. Flaps provide direct control of the vehicle’s lift and drag vectors, eliminating the need for a center of gravity offset and enabling a relatively constant vehicle attitude. A near-constant attitude may allow the use of relative navigation sensors and regional-scale science instruments during the hypersonic portion of entry. Direct aerodynamic vector control also enables active regulation of heating and reduces or eliminates the need for a reaction control system in the hypersonic regime. The Configuration-Based Aerodynamics tool was used to predict the trim angle of attack, trim lift-to-drag ratio, lift coefficients, and drag coefficients for variations in the number of flaps, individual flap configurations, and deployment angles. Aerodynamic data is validated against static trim-tab data from the literature. Results for one flap above the entry vehicle are presented for the hypersonic regime with the angle of attack ranging from -4 degrees to 20 degrees. These results demonstrate the effects of a flap on the aerodynamic performance of an entry vehicle and will inform the development of guidance, navigation, and control systems for various flap configurations on entry vehicles.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Aerospace Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Sepulveda, Jose

Contributors dc:contributor

• Putnam, Zachary R.

• Flaps
• Trim-tabs
• Blunt-bodies
• Hypersonic trajectory control

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Jose Sepulveda

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98438

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/98438