Experiments on Hypersonic Fluid-Structure Interaction in the Wind Tunnel H2K
Abstract
High speed vehicles travelling through earth’s atmosphere are subjected to severe static and dynamic pressure and thermal loads. Such vehicles require light weight structures prone to flow-dependent structural deformation that may alter the flow field and aerothermal loads, called fluid-structure interaction (FSI). Insufficiently addressing the thermal and dynamic loads may reduce vehicle life-time or result in structural failure. The objective of the proposed study is to conduct high-fidelity wind tunnel experiments on FSI in hypersonic flow in collaboration with the AFRL Structural Sciences Center. Such studies using generic configurations are necessary to support and validate modelling efforts in this area as well as to improve fundamental understanding of such problems. These developments are crucial foundations for the reliable design of future hypersonic vehicles. The experiments will be conducted in the hypersonic wind tunnel H2K at DLR, Cologne, Germany where a broad range of conditions can be obtained that are ideally suited for the study of combined thermal and pressure-driven effects. This study will encompass: 1) Detailed reference experiments on aerothermal heat transfer and static and dynamic pressure loads including shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction. 2) Aerothermal heating of panels in hypersonic flow that can lead to buckling, changes in panel dynamics including panel flutter and shifts in frequencies. 3) These conditions can also lead to snap-through instabilities/dynamics of the panel during the wind tunnel runs. 4) Conditions of flow and structure for which FSI-induced structural damage may occur will be identified and wind tunnel runs under these conditions will be conducted. These experiments with state-of-the-art instrumentation both of flow field and structure will provide unprecedented high-quality data for the study of hypersonic FSI.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 21, 2022
- Source ID
- FA86552117041XX0
Entities
People
- Dennis Daub
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- German Aerospace Center
- United States Air Force