Hypersonic Aerodynamics

Barbara Schlottfeldt Maia

Engineering Central
College of Engineering
Swansea University
Swansea UK
878339@swansea.ac.uk

Abstract There is a currently increasing interest in the design
and manufacture of civilian hypersonic vehicles, driving the
research of methods to employ in the design process. In the
present work, a MATLAB program was developed using an
approximate and inverse method known as Maslens [1] method
to solve the entire inviscid hypersonic flow field of different shock
waves examples. The results are discussed and compared in this
paper along with the exact solution for one of these examples.
This work aims to validate the approach of Maslens method [1]
for both two dimensional and axisymmetric flow in various
conditions by using non dimensional variables in equations.
Keywordshypersonic vehicles; shock wave; inverse method;
I. INTRODUCTION
Figure 1. SKYLON space plane
The increased research of technologies in aerodynamics field
lead to the design of civilian hypersonic vehicles such as the
SKYLON (Figure 1) [2] and Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo
(Figure 2) [3].
SKYLON is a design for a single-stage-to-orbit space
plane(STTO) by the British company Reaction Engines
Limited(REL), able to achieve orbit without staging.
The vehicle design is for a hydrogen-fuelled aircraft that
would take off from a purpose-built runway, and accelerate to
Mach 5.4 at 26 kilometers (16 mi) altitude using
the atmosphere's oxygen before switching the engines to use
the internal liquid oxygen (LOX) supply to take it into
orbit. Once in orbit it would release its payload (of up to 15
tonnes). The vehicle will be unpiloted, but also be certified to
carry passengers.
SpaceShipTwo is the second stage of a two stage to orbit
(TSTO) reusable, winged spacecraft, designed to repeatedly
carry as many as eight people(including two pilots) into space.
SpaceShipTwo is powered by a hybrid rocket motor and this
spacecraft uses a unique system to safely re-enter the Earths
atmosphere. With this system, SpaceShipTwo can mimic the
performance of a capsule or of a winged vehicle at the
appropriate parts of its trajectory. SpaceShipTwo is currently
undergoing testing before becoming available for commercial
use.
A present dilemma is encountered in the aerodynamic design
of these hypersonic vehicles i.e. there is a limited number of
large working section wind tunnels worldwide for testing the
design, besides the ones available are very expensive to
operate.
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) provides an alternative
design approach, however the high accuracy techniques
applied in CFD are themselves expensive as well and are
generally employed only for final detailed design.
In the initial design phase of hypersonic vehicles, cheaper, low
accuracy methods are more desirable considering these
methods allow a rapid sweeping of parameter spaces. Maslens
method [1] for example is among this class of methods and
produces satisfying results and simple approach when solving
hypersonic flow past smooth symmetric bodies in both
axisymmetric or planar cases.
Figure 2. SpaceShipTwo by Virgin Galactic
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
The method chosen in the present work was Maslens [1] and
it consists in a simple inverse problem method considering the
shock shape is assumed and the calculations start right behind
the shock, followed by the computation of the flow field and
determination of the corresponding body shape.
The method relies on the assumption that the layer between
the shock and the body is very thin, creating a thin shock layer
in which the flow is approximately parallel to the shock, with
exception of the stagnation region near the stagnation point.
Such approximations are the basis of the thin shock layer
theory and this method relies strongly on this analysis.
III. METHOD
Maslens method [1] solves an inverse problem. A shock wave
shape is assumed and the body shape that supports this shock Figure 3. Flow variables through shock
is calculated along with the flow field between the shock and
the body. 1u1 2u2 ( 0 )
The steps taken are derived from Andersons book[4] and
Maslens scientific article[1]. p1 1u12 p2 2u2 2 ( 0 )

A. Nomenclature 1 1
h1 u12 h2 u2 2
Subscripts : 2 2 (0)
freestream value
, x = partial derivatives with respect to or x Continuity equation ahead of shock is defined as in Eq.(4) :

Dimensional variables - marked with an over bar: ( u1 ) + ( v1 ) 0
x y (0)
x , y = distance along and normal(inward) to the
shock The stream function across a normal shock can be found
p = pressure with Equations (5) and (6) :
= density a
u, v = velocities in x, y direction 1u1
y ( 0 )
= stream function
h enthalpy a
L = characteristic length 1v1 0
x (0)
V = freestream velocity
= shock curvature
Since
1,u1 are constant, the stream function across a
Dimensionless variables : normal shock is defined as :
1
h h / ( V2 ) a 1u1 y ( 0 )
2
X X/L Behind the shock :
p p/ ( pV2 ) b
Y Y /L 2u2
y ( 0 )
U U / V
V V / V b
2 v2 0
/ pV L x (0)

/ L 2 ,u2 are constant, the stream function is defined as :

M = Mach Number Since

B. Normal shock relations Conservation of mass, b 2u2 y( 0 )

momentum and energy
Knowing that across the shock
u11 u2 2 :

b a( 0 )

The stream function is continuous across the shock.

CNPq Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfico e Tecnolgico is the funding agency that provided the author with a scholarship inside the Science
Without Borders program.
C. Oblique Shock Relations
u
y (0)

Ahead of the shock VY ( 0 )

Hence, in dimensionless form:

Y
The body surface is defined by =0 .

Tangential velocity is continuous i.e.

.
u1 cos u2 cos v2 sin ( 0 )

p2 2
1 (M12 sin 2 1)
p1 ( 1) (0)

Conditions with substitution are conditions at - hence :

p2 2
1 (M 2 sin 2 1)
p ( 1) (0)

and
2 ( 1) (M 2 sin 2 1)
a. Detail for the analysis by Maslen
( 1) (M 2 sin 2 2) ( 0 )

D. Change Coordinate System Since the stream value = constant across the shock,
From (X,Y) to (x,y). taking Figure 4 as an example to go through the method, the
Let (x) denote the curvature of the bow shock. stream value at point 2 is:
2 2' Y2' ( 0)
The shock curvature can be calculated by the formula (16)
from M. M. Schulreich and D. Breitschwerdts article [5] :
From Eq.(21), if Y 1 is known so is 1 .
: If 2 ' is known so is Y 2 ' .
d2 r
dz2 Since 2-2 is a streamline then from isentropic relations and

dr 2
3/2
knowing that the flow is isentropic along any streamline i.e.
1 ( dz) s 2=s2 ' :
(0)

1 1
h2 (U 2 2 V2 2 ) h V 2
The mass conservation equation then becomes: 2 2 (0)

( u) (1 y) v 0
x y 1 2 1 1 1
(0) V h2 V 2 (U 2 2 V2 2 ) V 2 h V 2
i.e. 2 2 2 2 (0)
in dimensionless form.
Stream function in (x,y) is then such that :
It can be demonstrated that:
(1 y) v
x (0)
 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1
V V V2 V u2 C A AuA CuC yC yA
2 2 2 (0) 2 (0)

Then
2 C A
Hence, Eq.(24) can be approximated as : yC yA
AuA CuC ( 0 )

(0)

IV. PARABOLOIDAL SHOCK EXAMPLE

Giving an approximate value for u2 :
F. Approximate equations for axisymmetric case
, The same procedure of the method can be done in the
axisymmetric case, only requiring small modifications to some
(0) of the equations.
The shock is defined as :
E. Von Mises Transformation
r 2 2Lz
A Von Mises Transformation of governing equations is done to with
change the independent variables from (x,y) to (x, ).
z L z and r L r
Then, approximating for a thin shock layer gives:
shock equation in a non dimensional form is:
p
u r 2 2z
x The stream function from Eq. (20) becomes:
(0)

Turning equation (27) into a non dimensional form, gives : r2

V
p 2 (0)
u
x
since V L
(0) 2

It can be approximated as : then, at the shock:

p
u1 1 rs2
x s zs
(0) 2 (0)
This Eq.(29) gives the formula to calculate the pressure at
point 2 :
p2 p1 u1 1 ( 2 1 ) ( 0 ) Equation (27) , at the shock in axisymmetric becomes :
p us s

To find the physical coordinate Y, which corresponds to a rs ( 0 )
particular value of an integration of the definition of the
stream function must be done : Turning Eq. (38) into non dimensional form :
d p us s
u
dy x rs ( 0 )
(0)

then A change is also made in Eq.(30) to find the pressure:

s u
d p ps s s ( s )
y rs

u (0)
(0)
Hence, Eq.(32) turns into:
This also locates the body coordinate where :
1 s d
s
d y
yb rs u
0
u ( 0 ) (0)

or Eq.(42) below can be used directly :

From a point A to another point C , both at the y direction
normal to the shock, eq. (33) can be approximated as:
 s
d 1 2z
r1w rs1w (w 1)us p ps 1 / s 1
u 4 2z 1 (0)

(0)

For an axisymmetric case w=1, hence:

s Where
d
r 2 rs2 2us 1 1
1/
u p 1 2
1 2

(0) (0)
Eq.(42) can be used as well in a two dimensional case(w=0). 1/2
4 2 p
u 2
1 1 (0)

G. Exact Solution 1/2

s
d
r 2z 2us
The equation of the shock is rs (2z) .
1/2

u
Consider a perfect gas with =1.4 and M = . (0)
From this, at the shock, the exact solution can be found with The result of this exact solution example in axisymmetric fow
the equation used in Maslens [1], using Rankine-Hugoniot is shown in Figure 8 at section VI of this paper.
conditions :
2 1
ps
1 2z 1 ( 0 )

1
s
1( 0 )

1/2
2z
us
1 2z (0)

s z( 0 )

V. PROGRAM DEVELOPED

The MATLAB code presented below is for the axisymmetric example with a shock shape assumed of r= 2 z at free stream
Mach Number and =1.4 The code was developed in a way that makes it easy to be adjusted for different shock shape
examples, because it only needs the sub-functions to be edited.

%==========================================================================
functionmaslen_axi
%==========================================================================
clearall;
closeall;
clc;
%==========================================================================
%flowdata
%==========================================================================
gamma=1.4;%Cp/Cv
Mach=5*10^10;%freestreamMachnumber
w=1;%w=1:axisymmetricflow
%w=0:planeflow
%==========================================================================
%definenumberofsolutionlines,ns,andnumberofpointsoneachline,np
%==========================================================================
ns=100;
np=200;
nsh=100;%numberofshockpoints
%==========================================================================
%initialisevectorsnondimensionalvariables
%==========================================================================

u=zeros(ns,np);%tangentialvelocity
p=zeros(ns,np);%pressure
rho=zeros(ns,np);%density
psi=zeros(ns,np);%streamfunction
beta=zeros(1,ns);%anglebeta
sin2b=zeros(1,ns);%squaredsineofbeta
cos2b=zeros(1,ns);%squaredcosineofbeta
zs=zeros(1,nsh);%shockshapezcoordinate
rs=zeros(1,nsh);%shockshapercoordinate
k=zeros(1,ns);%shockcurvature
y=zeros(ns,np);%
y2=zeros(ns,np);%bodyshapeycoordinate
x2=zeros(ns,np);%bodyshapexcoordinate
dn=zeros(ns,np);%
beta1=zeros(ns,np);%anglebetaatpoint1
p1=zeros(ns,np);%pressureatpoint1
rho1=zeros(ns,np);%densityatpoint1

%==========================================================================
%computeshockpointsforplotting
%==========================================================================
X0=0.01;
Xf=10;

foris=1:nsh
zs(is)=X0+(XfX0)*(is1)/(nsh1);
rs(is)=shock_eq(zs(is),1);
end
%==========================================================================
%computesolutionalongeachnormal
%==========================================================================
fori=1:ns
%======================================================================
%conditionsimmediatelybehindtheshock
%======================================================================
[beta(i)]=slope(zs(i));
cos2b(i)=(cos(beta(i)))^2;
sin2b(i)=(sin(beta(i)))^2;
u(i,1)=sqrt(cos2b(i));
r1=(gamma+1)*(Mach^2)*sin2b(i);
r2=(((gamma1)*(Mach^2)*sin2b(i))+2);
rho(i,1)=r1/r2;
sp=(2*gamma)*((Mach^2)*sin2b(i)1)/(gamma+1);
p(i,1)=(1+sp)/(gamma*Mach^2);
psi(i,1)=(rs(i)^(1+w))/(1+w);%streamfunctionnormalized
k(i)=curvat(zs(i));
y(i,1)=0;
x2(i,1)=zs(i);
y2(i,1)=rs(i);
%======================================================================
%computesolutionateachotherpoint
%======================================================================
forj=2:np
ifj==np
psi(i,j)=0;
else
psi(i,j)=psi(i,1)(j1)*(psi(i,1)/(np1));
end
p(i,j)=p(i,j1)+(u(i,1)*k(i)*(psi(i,j)psi(i,j1)))/((rs(i))^w);

x1=shock_eq(psi(i,j),0);
beta1(i,1)=beta(i);
[beta1(i,j)]=slope(x1);
s2b=(sin(beta1(i,j)))^2;
sp1=(2*gamma)*((Mach^2)*s2b1)/(gamma+1);
p1(i,1)=p(i,1);
p1(i,j)=(1+sp1)/(gamma*Mach^2);
rho1(i,1)=rho(i,1);
rho1(i,j)=((gamma+1)*(Mach^2)*s2b)/(((gamma1)*(Mach^2)*s2b)+2);
%h1=2*gamma*p1/((gamma1)*rho1);
%u1=sqrt(c2b);
h0=(2/((gamma1)*Mach^2))+1;%totalenthalpy
rho(i,j)=rho1(i,j)*(p(i,j)/p1(i,j))^(1/gamma);
hp=(2*gamma/(gamma1))*(p(i,j)/rho(i,j));
u(i,j)=((h0hp))^(1/2);

dn(i,j)=(2*(psi(i,j)psi(i,j1)))/(rho(i,j)*u(i,j)+rho(i,j1)*u(i,j1));
y(i,j)=y(i,j1)dn(i,j);
y2(i,j)=((rs(i))^2(2*u(i,1)*y(i,j)))^(0.5);
x2(i,j)=zs(i)+(rs(i)y2(i,j))*tan(beta(i));

end
end

%==========================================================================
%plotresults
%==========================================================================
ifw==1
%==========================================================================
%axisymmetricflow
%==========================================================================
figure(1)
holdon
contourf(x2,y2,p,100,'EdgeColor','none')
plot(zs,rs,'b',x2(:,np),y2(:,np),'r');
gridon
xlabel('Zcoordinate','FontSize',16);
ylabel('Rcoordinate','FontSize',16);
legend('pressureprofile','shockshape','body');
%==========================================================================
%pressureplotoverbody
%==========================================================================
figure(2)
plot(zs,p(:,np),'b');
set(gca,'FontSize',16)
xlabel('ZAXIS','FontSize',16);
ylabel('Pressureatthebody','FontSize',16)

end

ifw==0
%==========================================================================
%twodimensional(plane)flow
%==========================================================================
figure(1)
plot(zs,rs,'b',x2(:,np),y2(:,np),'r');
gridon
xlabel('Xcoordinate');
ylabel('Ycoordinate');
legend('shockwave','body');
%==========================================================================
%pressureplotoverbody
%==========================================================================
figure(2)
plot(zs,p(:,np),'b');
xlabel('XAXIS');
ylabel('Pressureatthebody');

end
%==========================================================================
%SUBFUNCTIONS
functionY=shock_eq(X,imark)
%==========================================================================
%shockequationY^2=X
%==========================================================================
ifimark==1
Y=sqrt(2*X);
end
ifimark==1
Y=(X^2)/2;
end
ifimark==0
Y=X;
end
return
%==========================================================================
%tan(beta)=dy/dx
%==========================================================================
function[beta]=slope(X)

beta=atan((2*X)^(0.5));

return
%==========================================================================
%shockcurvaturek
%==========================================================================
functionk=curvat(X)
dydx=(2*X)^(0.5);%firstderivativeofshockequation
d2ydx2=(1/((2*X)^(1.5)));%secondderivativeofshockequation
k=(abs(d2ydx2))/((1+(dydx)^2)^(1.5));
%Rs=k^1;
return

VI. RESULTS
The results are shown for several tests made to solve the
flow and body shape of different shock wave shapes stated
on the code in both two dimensional and axisymmetric flow.
The comparison of results is made, validating the accuracy
of this Maslens approximate approach.

Figure 6. Approximate solution for paraboloidal shock of

equation r= 2 z at M = using the
MATLAB program in axisymmetric case. The dimensionless
pressure profile is shown with red the high and blue the low
pressure.

Figure 4. Body associated with shock of equation

y= x ( M =5.8, =1.4 . Example
solved and plotted with the MATLAB program in a 2D case.

Figure 7. Exact solution for the paraboloidal shock of equation

Figure 5. Pressure on the body associated with the shock

r= 2 z at infinite free stream Mach number in
axisymmetric case. The dimensionless pressure profile is shown
equation y= x ( M =5.8, =1.4) .
 with red the high and blue the low pressure.
Figure 8. Pressure on the body associated with the shock of
equation equation r= 2 z at M = using the
solid unit sphere. A perfect monoatomic gas is assumed ( = 5/3). The
analytical body prediction is represented by the red line. The bow shock
wave is parametrized by r = (2.620 z)0.471 with w= 1. The
VII. CONCLUSIONS
The MATLAB code was validated by comparison with
the exact solution for the case of infinite free stream Mach
number.
Maslens method is currently an indirect method and for
future applications it should be extended to create a direct
method in which the body shape is prescribed and the
problem is iteratively solved by comparing a computed
body shape with the defined shape, adjusting the shock
There is also a uniformly valid extension that wasnt used in
this project and should be pursued to naturally provide the
REFERENCES
[1] Maslen S. H. Inviscid hypersonic flow past smooth symmetric bodies
(AIAA). AIAA Journal. 1964 [cited 23 August 2016];2(6):1055-1059.
Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/3.2494
[2] Reaction Engines Ltd - Space Access: SKYLON [Internet].
Reactionengines.co.uk. 2016 [cited 25 August 2016]. Available from:
http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/space_skylon.html
[3] Our vehicles and spaceships [Internet]. Virgin Galactic. 2016 [cited
25 August 2016]. Available from:
http://www.virgingalactic.com/human-spaceflight/our-vehicles/
MATLAB program in axisymmetric case.
Figure 9. Comparison between the numerical and analytical
solution of a bow shock wave generated by a hypersonic flow
(M = 500) hitting the
(dimensionless) density profile shown is colour-coded, with red the high
and blue the low density. Example taken from [5].
solution in the region behind the shock that is near the axis
and the stagnation point.
location appropriately and repeating this process to
convergence.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
B. Schlottfeldt Maia thanks Kenneth Morgan for taking
part as a supervisor in this research project and providing
assistance from its start to finish.
[4] Anderson J. D. Hypersonic and high-temperature gas dynamics.
Reston, Va.: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics;
2006. (pp. 36, 167-172)
[5] Schulreich, M. M., Breitschwerdt, D. Astrophysical bow shocks: an
analytical solution for the hypersonic blunt body problem in the
intergalactic medium. Astronomy & Astrophysics. 2011;531:A13.
[6] Sokhanvar F. , Khoshnevis A. B. Approximate Method of Calculation
of Inviscid Hypersonic Flow. International Journal of Mechanical,
Aerospace, Industrial, Mechatronic and Manufacturing Engineering.
2009;3(10):1272-1277.