Numerical simulation over a multi-body launch vehicle module at various transonic Mach numbers

• Main Authors: Rathnavel S., Das Dipankar, Rose Bruce Ralphin J., Rasheed Haroon K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Belgrade - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade 2017-01-01
• Series: FME Transactions
• Subjects: launch vehicle; cfd simulation; strap-on boosters; transonic flow; turbulent flow
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/1451-2092/2017/1451-20921701009R.pdf

Simulations have been carried out for a multi-body launch vehicle configuration using CFD code 'PARAS-3D'. PARAS-3D is a Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations (RANS) solver with k-ε turbulence model. The transonic regime is a critical regime for any launch vehicle configuration because of its typical aerodynamic characteristics such as shock wave disturbances. CFD flow simulations are done at zero degree angle of attack for various strap-on nose cone angle, nose radius and Mach numbers 0.8, 0.9, 0.95, 1.05. For different positions of strap-on obtained through forward and backward shift from its original position, the influence of strap-on on fore body of the core of launch vehicle is investigated. In this article, the results pertaining to the pressure distribution and Mach contour over launch vehicle configuration is presented.