Numerical Prediction of Lateral
Jets for Missile Like Geometries
Ekin Ağsarlıoğlu
Ali Akgül
Lateral (side) jet control is gaining popularity for maneuvering
since it has some advantages over conventional control techniques.
At lower dynamic pressure, a lateral-jet controlled missile has more
capability for maneuvering than an aerodynamically-controlled
missile. Another important advantage is a faster response. In this
study, the effects of lateral jets on missile like geometries are
investigated numerically by the commercial unstructured
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver FLUENT. Two generic
missile models with side jets, experimental data of which are
available in literature, are analyzed. These two models were both
tested in the supersonic free-stream and the sonic jet exit
conditions in wind tunnels. Model-1 has two different
configurations. CFD validations for these configurations are done by
comparing the calculated force amplification factor “K” and the
interaction moment center ”XCPi” with the measured values. CFD
validations for Model-2 are done by comparing the surface pressure
coefficient data at three different roll angles with the measured
data. Despite some discrepancies, the experimental data and the CFD
results are in good agreement with each other for both generic
missile models, As a result, a numerical methodology for solving
lateral-jet controlled supersonic missile problems has been
developed. This methodology can be used as a part of the lateral-jet
controlled missile design.
Key words: missile, missile control, lateral jet, numerical
fluid dynamics, numerical simulation.