Fixed Wing, High Performance Aircraft
CFDRC develops multi-physics software applications and delivers expert engineering design services for fixed wing aircraft, including: commercial aircraft, air superiority fighter aircraft, stealth aircraft, strategic bombers, and hypersonic research aircraft.
Aircraft Aerodynamics
Advances made in CFD technologies, coupled with the phenomenal growth in the speed and memory of computers, have made it possible for CFDRC engineers to routinely conduct aerodynamic simulations of complete aircraft configurations at desired flight conditions. This enables us to provide our customers with valuable aerodynamic data to enable faster and cost effective design and evaluation cycles. Our capabilities include:
- Aerodynamic Performance
- Stability and Control
- Engine inlet aerodynamics
- Control surfaces aerodynamics
Coupled Fluid, Structure, Thermal and Control Analysis Capablity
CFDRC has developed a unique, well-integrated, ready-to-use, high-fidelity multidisciplinary tool for the simulation of aeroelastic problems of aerospace vehicles. Our integrated environment includes:
- Variety of commercial and government CFD Solvers
- Variety of commercial and government FEM Solvers
- Conservative-consistent interfacing technology
- Advanced deformations grid interpolation algorithm/li>
- FE Models for piezoelectric actuators and Matlab® control laws
Aero-elasticity, Flutter & Buffet Analysis
Aerospace vehicles that perform aggressive maneuvers are subject to several dynamic loads problems such as Limit Cycle Oscillations(LCO), flutter & buffet. Unsteady computational aeroelastic simulations of these problems require careful attention to the physical modules of fluid and structures, as well as to the fluid-structure interfacing and fluid-grid movement.
Wing flutter occurs as a result of an exchange of energy between different modes of the structure because of fluid-structure interactions. Flutter is a growing oscillation of a wing surface leading to large amplitudes and stresses, which can lead to structural failure of the aircraft.
Buffeting is a serious problem that limits the ability of high performance aircraft to maneuver at high angles of attack. The crucial point in predicting the aeroelastic buffet behavior of aircraft is the knowledge of both the driving unsteady airloads associated with flow separations and the motion-induced unsteady airloads due to the oscillations of the airframe. Our previous work includes:
- Dynamic flutter analysis of AGARD wings
- Passive flow Control for F/A-18 Buffet alleviation using LEX Fences
- Active flow Control for F/A-18 Buffet alleviation using Vortical Blowing
- Active Structural Control for F/A-18 Buffet alleviation using Piezoelectric Actuators
Aero-Acoustics & Noise Propagation
Aircraft noise generation and radiation has been a longstanding problem for both civilian and military purposes. The major sources of aircraft noise are from the engine propulsion system, airframe, high-lift devices and landing gears. Issues of noise reduction are thus extremely important for both internal and external regions of the aircraft. CFDRC has developed and applied aero-acoustics expertise and technology solutions for the noise propagation problem including:
- Wavelet based compression technology for efficient resolution of flow fields
- Coupled vorticity transport and Euler methods for resolving near-field and far-field noise inducing vortices
- Developed and applied acoustic analogy based on Kirchoff-Ffowcs Williams and Hawking methodology to accurately propagate near-body acoustics informationto the far field
Crew Escape Systems & Ejection Seat Design
Crew escape systems are an integral feature in combat aircraft. Two main concerns with such systems are their aerodynamic stability, and the potential injury level to which their occupants are exposed upon ejection. CFDRC has been at the forefront of developing CFD technology for escape system aerodynamic analysis, design support and injury reduction. CFDRC engineers have worked very closely with DoD and major ejection seat manufacturers on developing and applying CFD technology to support major escape system programs including ejection seat upgrades, mishap investigations and design of new systems.
- Ejection seat and canopy trajectory simulation
- Windblast protection
- Stabilization devices
- Head and neck injury assessment
- Helmet mounted Display (HMD) and goggles
- Inflatable restraint systems
- Rocket plume interference.
Our engineers have performed analysis and design support on all major NATO ejection seats in service including the NACES, ACES-II, SIIIS, Martin Baker MK16 seat and their variants.
