A Parametric Study of Hypersonic Waverider Flight Mechanics in Optimized Trajectories during Atmospheric Entry

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2021-05

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The Ohio State University

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Abstract

Over the years, many aerospace corporations and agencies have attempted to develop hypersonic vehicles. However, until recently, they have only achieved very limited success due to a lack of air-breathing hypersonic propulsion technology. Now, as technology is advancing and funds are becoming more available, aviation is once again shifting its focus towards hypersonic flight. One of many hypersonic applications is atmospheric reentry, whether reentry into Earth's atmosphere or entry into another planetary body's atmosphere. While basic theories on hypersonic reentry flight mechanics are already in use, these analyses have yet to be applied to optimizing trajectories for hypersonic waveriders in skip-glide atmospheric entry trajectories. The purpose of this research project was to provide a brief analysis of unpowered skip and glide entry trajectories and to present an optimized hypersonic waverider trajectory for a simple atmospheric reentry scenario. Five main types of unpowered glide trajectories—constant flight path angle, constant sinking speed, constant flight speed, constant dynamic pressure, and constant heating rate—were analyzed using MATLAB to model the altitude, velocity, flight path angle, and lift modulation profiles. Additionally, constant aerodynamic efficiency skip trajectories were analyzed for their ability to extend reentry ranges. The results of these analyses were then used to optimize a combined skip-glide atmospheric reentry trajectory for hypersonic waveriders about the Earth's equator. This research utilized a classical optimization approach, using MATLAB to graph the applicable design spaces for the analysis. The resulting trajectory maximizes the range of the reentry trajectory while conforming to applied maximum aerodynamic heating and maximum dynamic pressure constraints. The findings of this research will benefit the aerospace community by providing insight into hypersonic waverider performance during Earth reentry after completed space missions. This information can be used to inform flight vehicle design decisions for optimizing hypersonic waverider performance. Moreover, beyond just Earth atmospheric reentry, the analyses used in this research can also be applied to atmospheric entry into other planetary atmospheres, aiding in vehicle design and planning for interplanetary missions.

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Hypersonic flight, Atmospheric reentry, Hypersonic waveriders, Trajectory optimization

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