Boosters-Central Body Flow Interaction on the Brazilian SLV
- Paper number
IAC-09.C2.I.7
- Author
Dr. Algacyr Morgenstern Jr., Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço – IAE, Brazil
- Year
2009
- Abstract
The Brazilian Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) has a configuration composed of four strap on boosters as its first stage. These four boosters are fixed to the central body second stage by struts which promote a very complex flow field as the vehicle climbs along its trajectory. The proximity of the boosters with the central body results in a supersonic flow shock wave pattern very complex where interactions with boundary layers and neighboring bodies shock waves represent a simulation difficulty. The present study intends to show results of a numerical simulation of this supersonic flow field discussing its physical characteristics in detail. To do so a numerical computer code that solves the compressible fluid flow governing equations by applying a finite volume approach in the treatment of the spatial discretization of the fluxes with second order central differences in the left hand side. Time discretization was implemented by a second order accurate Euler three-point backward discretization. A solution is obtained using a lower upper symmetric-Gauss-Seidel factorization scheme. Fine scale turbulence was taking into account by the one-equation turbulence model presented by Spalart and Allmaras, implemented in this 3-D Navier-Stokes code. Results of the supersonic flow numerical simulations are presented in the form of pressure distributions along the geometry of the vehicle and pressure and Mach contour plots showing the shock wave patterns involved. These results are compared with available experimental data to validate the numerical solution for this type of simulation. Special attention will be given to the region of interaction of the nose of the boosters with the central body, where strong shock waves from the nose of the boosters interact with the incoming boundary layer on the central body and with the shock waves from the adjacent boosters.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)