Aerodynamic Analysis of Optimized Bending Body Configurations with Trajectory Simulations

Abstract

A bending body design of the Air Force Finner projectile was investigated as a maneuver technology with two different simulation methodologies, KESTREL and Cart3D, as well as an optimization algorithm. A strictly bent nose configuration was selected for focused investigation, the results of which informed the setup and execution of the optimization studies. The optimization studies identified similar optimal configurations—all strictly bent body configurations—for each Mach number investigated (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0). The strictly bent nose configuration was simulated in coupled Navier-Stokes trajectory simulations, which found up to 60 g of maneuver authority. Strictly bent nose and strictly bent body configurations as well as hybrid options were found to have similar performance with niche advantages in different ways that could be selected as control technology for extreme maneuvers.