Effect of Deformation of the Inflatable Deceleration Device for Reentry Vehicles on the Aerodynamic Characteristics

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K04847
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 24010:Aerospace engineering-related
• Research Institution: Ryukoku University
• Principal Investigator: Otsu Hirotaka 龍谷大学, 先端理工学部, 教授 (20313934)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 再突入飛行体 / 風洞実験 / 数値流体解析 / 3Dプリンタ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, wind tunnel experiments and numerical fluid dynamics analyses were conducted to clarify the aerodynamic characteristics of a reentry vehicle with a flexible structure in high-speed air flows. In the wind tunnel tests, a fabrication method of a test model with adjustable stiffness was established using an optical 3D printer in order to take into account the aerodynamic deformation of the flexible structure, and was applied to the wind tunnel tests. As a result, we succeeded in creating a model that deforms according to the stiffness in the supersonic and transonic regions.
Numerical fluid analysis was performed to reproduce the above experimental results. The analysis was performed by simulating the shape of the model after deformation and a simple fluid-structure coupled analysis, and was able to qualitatively reproduce the wind tunnel test results.

Free Research Field

大気圏再突入飛行体

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により将来の安全な再突入飛行を実現可能な柔軟構造再突入飛行体の空力特性を明らかにするために必要な実験模型作成手法と解析手法をある程度確立することができた。実験模型作成手法は剛性を調整可能で、かつ、形状を高精度に再現可能であることから、様々な風洞試験模型の作成に応用可能である。また、柔軟性を考慮した模型の変形の様子を再現するために実施した流体構造連成解析により変形の様子と空力特性を定性的に再現することができた。これらの成果は、安全な再突入飛行体を設計することに役立つと考えられる。