Supersonic Aerodynamics

Methods and Applications

 Outline
• Introduction to Supersonic Flow
• Governing Equations
• Numerical Methods
• Aerodynamic Design
• Applications
 Introduction to Supersonic Flow

• What does “Supersonic” mean ?

– The term Supersonic implies that the flow is faster
than the speed of sound in the entirely regions
concerned.

• Motivations
– High speed civil transport (HSCT)
– Military fighters with supersonic cruise
Characteristics of Supersonic Flow
• Shock wave
• Entirely supersonic
Bow shock on supersonic wedge airfoil

Bow shock on supersonic wedge

airfoil, M = 1.7
Characteristics of 3D Supersonic Flow
• Subsonic Leading Edge
• Supersonic Leading Edge
Spanwise pressure distributions for two different cases.
Influence on aerodynamic center
 Governing Equations

• N-S Equations
• Euler Equations
• Full Potential Equation
• Prandtl-Glauert Equation

(1 − M 2∞ )φ xx + φ yy + φ zz = 0
 Prandtl-Glauert Equation
• The flow is assumed to be steady, inviscid and
irrotational.
• The flow is assumed to be essentially free stream,
with only small perturbations.
• If the flow is entirely supersonic, then the right-hand-
side of the transonic small disturbance equation can
also be neglected, and the governing equation we
must solve reduces to the linear form.
Prandtl-Glauert Equation

Prandtl-Glauert Equation

The right-hand-side of the transonic small

disturbance equation can be neglected

• Second order, linear partial differential equation

• Not difficult to solve in this form
• In the form of wave equations
 Numerical Methods
• Panel Methods for Prandtl-Glauert Equation
– Woodward, F. A.: Analysis and Design of Wing-Body
Combinations at Subsonic and Supersonic Speeds. J.
Aircraft., Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 528-534, (1968).

• Finite Difference Methods

– See chapter 8

• Finite Volume Method

– MGAERO
– CFD-FASTRAN
 Aerodynamic Design
• Supersonic flight is a challenge. We can get some insight
from the range equation:

• At supersonic speed the main problem is drag !

– Wing configuration
– Area-rule
– Slender body theory
• Control the shift of aerodynamic center
 Wing Configuration
• In three dimensions, the bow shock is
in reality a cone in shape (a Mach
cone) as it extends back from the
nose of the airplane.
• The Mach cone becomes increasingly
swept back with increasing Mach
numbers
• As long as the wing is swept back
behind the Mach cone, there is
subsonic flow over most of the wing
and relatively low drag.
 Wing Configuration

• A delta wing has the advantage of a large sweep

angle but also greater wing area than a simple swept
wing to compensate for the loss of lift usually
experienced in sweepback .
 Wing Configuration
• At still higher supersonic Mach numbers, the Mach cone may
approach the leading edge of even a highly swept delta wing.
• This condition causes the total drag to increase rapidly and, in
fact, a straight wing (no sweep) becomes preferable.
 Wing Configuration
• Arrow Wings
– Arrow wing is a class of planforms for which exact
linear theory solutions are available.
Wing Configuration
Drag of arrow wing
Modified arrow wing
 Modified arrow wing

Donald D. Baals, A. Warner Robins and Roy V. Haris, Jr.,

“Aerodynamic Design Integration of Supersonic Aircraft,” Journal of
Aircraft, Vol. 7, No. 5, Nov-Dec. 1970.pp. 385-394.
 Area Rule

supersonic wave drag

may be minimized by
using area ruling.
 Slender Body Theory

• The wave drag integral: ( See chapter 5 )

• The connection between the drag coefficient

and fineness ratio:
 Slender Body Theory
• The von Kármán Ogive
– The shape that produces minimum wave drag for a specified
base area and length, according to slender body theory.
 Slender Body Theory
• The Sears-Haack Body
– This is the minimum wave drag shape for a given length and
volume according to slender body theory.
– The body is closed at both ends and has a very slightly
blunted nose, and is symmetric about the mid-point.
 Control the Shift of Aerodynamic Center

• Modifying arrow wing

• Modifying delta wing

– See Concord configuration
 Application
• There have actually been only a few truly supersonic airplanes.
This means airplanes that can cruise supersonically.
• Before the F-22, classic “supersonic” fighters used brute force
(afterburners) and had extremely limited duration.

F-22
The small number of actual “cruisers”:
- B-58 - SR-71
- Concord - XB-70
- F-22

B-58
XB-70 SR-71
 Application: Concord
use delta modified wing and control the shift of
aerodynamic center
 Application:
Low-aspect-ratio wing
F-104
High speed civil transport