Transonic buffet of a space launcher aileron: Fanno and Rayleigh flows analogies
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 18 October 2021
Issue publication date: 28 March 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The transonic buffet is a complex aerodynamics phenomenon that imposes severe constraints on the design of high-speed vehicles, including for aircraft and space launchers. The origin of buffet is still debated in the literature, and the control of this phenomenon remains difficult. This paper aims to propose an original scenario to explain the origin of buffet, which in turn opens promising perspectives for its alleviation and attenuation.
Design/methodology/approach
This work relies on the use of numerical simulations, with the idea to reproduce the buffet phenomenon in a transonic aileron designed for small space launchers. Two numerical approaches are tested: unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) and large-eddy simulation (LES). The numerical predictions are first validated against available experimental data, before to be analysed in detail to identify the origin of buffet on the studied configuration. A complementary numerical study is then conducted to assess the possibility to delay the onset of buffet.
Findings
The buffet control strategy is based on wall cooling. By adequately choosing the wall temperature, this work shows that it is feasible to delay the emergence of buffet. More precisely, this paper highlights the crucial role of the subsonic flow inside the boundary layer, showing the existence of upstream travelling pressure waves that are responsible for the flow coupling between both sides of the airfoil, at the origin of the buffet phenomenon.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a new scenario to explain the origin of buffet, based on the use of a Fanno and Rayleigh flow analogies. This approach is used to design a control solution based on a modification of the wall temperature, showing very promising results.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank CNES for partially funding this work, especially Florent Puel and Jean Oswald for their support. The authors are grateful to Jean-Jacques Lasserre and Amaury Poidatz, from Dantec Dynamics, for the gracious loan of the LDV system. The authors also thank Laurent Michel, Mickael Bauerheim and Jeremie Gressier from ISAE-Supaero for helpful discussions and scientific support. Finally, this work has benefited from the computational resources offered by the computing center of the University of Toulouse (under projects CALMIP p1425 and p17014) and those provided by GENCI (project A0042A07178). These supports are greatly acknowledged.
Citation
Gourdain, N., Dumon, J., Bury, Y. and Molton, P. (2022), "Transonic buffet of a space launcher aileron: Fanno and Rayleigh flows analogies", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 32 No. 4, pp. 1255-1280. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-07-2021-0506
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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