Prediction and evaluation of the stage-separation compatibility of an internally carried air-launch vehicle

Wei Song, Bangcheng Ai, Xiaojian Zhao*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This work mainly predicts and evaluates the stage-separation compatibility of an internally carried air-launch vehicle by a multi-body separation wind-tunnel free-flight (WTFF) test without restraining the motional freedom. The Mach number is Ma=1.5, and the initial-launch angle of attack is considered to be α0=0° and α0=3°. The result shows that WTFF test is a feasible prediction and evaluation method for the stage-separation compatibility of an ICAL vehicle when the combined vehicle exhibits static stability. The launch-vehicle can be separated safely from the carrier-aircraft and has a good pitch-angle for ignition when α0=0°. However, the launch-vehicle exhibits a large pitch-angle when it separates completely from the carrier-aircraft when α0=3°, which is unacceptable. Different separation velocities have little influence on the stage-separation compatibility of the ICAL vehicle when α0=3°. The stage-separation compatibility of the ICAL vehicle is first investigated by a free-flight technique in a wind-tunnel, which provides a new research idea for interdisciplinary studies of the kinematics and aerodynamics of multi-body systems.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106001
JournalAerospace Science and Technology
Volume105
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Internally carried air-launch vehicle
  • Multi-body separation
  • Similarity simulation
  • Stage-separation compatibility
  • Wind-tunnel free-flight test

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