Thermomechanical Deformation Behavior of a Hypersonic Waverider Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

Hypersonic waveriders are attractive candidate for futuristic hypersonic air-breathing cruise vehicles, owing to high L/D ratio. Waveriders face extreme thermomechanical loads due to shock waves, air stagnation at leading edges, skin friction along the surfaces, high dynamic pressures, etc. Such elevated loads exposed to the structure for longer duration may lead to thermal deformation. Large deflections can affect the performance of scramjet powered hypersonic vehicles and needs to be probed. With this background, the present research is focused at numerically investigating the effect of combined thermomechanical loading on the deformation behavior of hypersonic waverider. Under flow condition of Mach 7 and dynamic pressure of 0.3 bar, the waverider is seen to experience maximum temperature of about 2590 K at the end of 300 seconds. Asymmetric loading from shock wave causes bending deformation in the waverider. Maximum deflection of 4 x 10-3 m is observed at the leading edge tip after 33 seconds.