Comparing & benchmarking engineering methods on the prediction of X-31 aerodynamics

• NATO RTO-AVT-161 is an assessment of Stability and Control Prediction Methods for NATO Air and Sea Vehicles. Though the assessment includes the use of advanced CFD methods, a number of useful engineering methods are available for fast and economic estimates of the aerodynamic characteristics of complex flight vehicles. The objective of this paper is to investigate the use of three specific engineering methods on the X-31 fighter configuration for which CFD, wind tunnel, and flight test data are available for comparison and evaluation purposes. The emphasis is on static longitudinal stability aspects up to high angles of attack; however, selected asymmetric and unsteady effects are considered. Results from the engineering methods are in good agreement with experiment and CFD for angles of attack up to 15 degrees for most cases and higher angles for some cases. Results for pitching moment are in good agreement with CFD, but many of the nonlinear characteristics of the airplane are not predicted by the engineering methods. The quality of the longitudinal stability results is discussed in terms of the prediction of the center of pressure on the vehicle. The results provide improved understanding of the continued usefulness of engineering methods as an analysis tool during the design phase and into the flight test diagnostic phase of a new aircraft.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Farkostteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Vehicle Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Aerodynamic characteristics

Analysis tools

Angles of attack

Center of pressure

CFD method

Design phase

Economic estimate

Engineering methods

Fighter configuration

Flight test

Flight test data

Flight vehicles

High angles of attack

Longitudinal stability

Nonlinear characteristics

Pitching moments

Prediction methods

Stability and control

Unsteady effects

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