Characterization of the Flowfield near a Wrap-Around Fin at Supersonic Speeds

A wall-mounted semi-cylindrical model fitted with a single wrap- around in (WAF) has been investigated numerically and experimentally, with the objective of characterizing the mean and turbulent flowfield near a WAF in a supersonic flowfield. Numerical and experimental results are used to determine the nature of the flowfield and quantify the effects of fin curvature on the character of the flow near WAFs. This research has been motivated by the need to identify possible sources of a high-speed rolling moment reversal observed in sub-scale flight tests. Detailed mean flow and turbulence measurements were obtained in the AFIT Mach 3 wind tunnel using conventional probes and cross-wire hot-film anemometry at a series of stations upstream of and aft of the fin shock/boundary layer interaction. Hot-film anemometry results showed the turbulence intensity and Reynolds shear stress in the fuselage boundary layer to be far greater on the concave side of the fin than on the convex side. Mean flow was also obtained in the AFIT Mach 5 wind tunnel using conventional pressure probes. Numerical results were also obtained at the test conditions employing the algebraic eddy viscosity model of Baldwin and Lomax. Correlation with experimental data suggests that the calculations have captured the flow physics involved in this complicated flowfield. The calculations, corroborated by experimental results, indicate that a vortex exists in the fin/body juncture region on the convex side of the fin. This feature is not captured by the oft- used inviscid methods, and can greatly influence the pressure loading on the fin near the root.Air Force Research Lab Wright-Patterson AFB OH Air Vehicles Directorate is the author of 'Characterization of the Flowfield near a Wrap-Around Fin at Supersonic Speeds', published 1998 under ISBN 9781423554707 and ISBN 1423554701.