Numerical study on the aerodynamic coupling effects of spinning and coning motions for a finned vehicle

A numerical method was used to compute the flow over a four-finned vehicle under supersonic conditions to study the aerodynamic characteristics of a spinning finned vehicle in a coning motion. For each flow condition, the side force and side moment of a combined spinning and coning motion were computed at roll angles of 0°–90°. The results of the non-rolling, coning, and spinning motions were superposed by using a nonlinear aerodynamic model, and the superposed side force and side moment were compared with those of the combined motion. The results indicated significant aerodynamic coupling effects with the combined motion at low Mach numbers and high coning and spin rates. Flow analysis showed that the coupling effects were mainly produced by the shockwaves and expansion waves around fins.