french r&t effort for high-speed airbreathing propulsion status in 2008
- Paper number
IAC-08.C4.5.5
- Author
Mr. Francois FALEMPIN, MBDA France, France
- Year
2008
- Abstract
During the 15 last years, a large Research and Technology effort has been led by MBDA and ONERA to develop knowledge on high-speed airbreathing propulsion and master associated technologies. The development of operational, civilian or military, application of the hypersonic airbreathing propulsion depends of two key points : development of needed technologies for the propulsion system as a low weight, highly robust fuel-cooled structure for the combustor, capability to predict with a reasonable accuracy, and to optimise, the aero-propulsive balance (or generalized thrust-minus-drag). Even if technologies will finally need to be flight proven, a large part of the technology development effort can be led with available ground test facilities and classical numerical simulation (thermics, mechanics…). After past efforts led within the framework of several R&T programs, the technology development effort is now focused on combustion chamber technology to ensure its performance and its thermal and mechanical strength : variable geometry needed to optimize the performance, fuel used as coolant for combustion chamber structure, fuel-cooled structure itself. On the contrary, before any operational application, it is mandatory to demonstrate our ability to predict the aeropropulsive balance (generalized thrust-minus-drag balance) of a hypersonic vehicle, providing sufficient margins to start a costly technological program. Considering this mandatory step, MBDA France and ONERA are leading a specific scientific program, called LEA, organized as follows: Define a methodology for the development of a hypersonic vehicle using ground tests and numerical simulation Develop the required tools (experimental or numerical) for this purpose. Apply this methodology to the development of a simplified, scientific experimental vehicle Validate this methodology through a series of flight tests. Started in January 2003, this program is planned to end in 2012 after 6 autonomous flight tests of the experimental vehicle in the Mach number range from 4 to 8. Beside these technology development programs, some system studies are still performed to design some possible operational vehicles and, in particular, combined cycle system for space launcher with specifically designed vehicle to take better advantage of the airbreathing mode. The proposed paper will describe the status of the complete R&T effort led in France with a specific focus on LEA program status.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.C4.5.5.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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