The relationship between the airflow behavior and different proportions of the shape header

Abstract This study focuses on investigating how varying the length-to-width ratio of cone-shaped aerospace vehicle headers affects the velocity distribution of the surrounding airflow. The paper first introduces the background of advancements in aerospace engineering, as well as the critical role of fairings in protecting payloads during launch. Previous research has established the importance of nose cone shape and efficiency for missile and rocket performance, exploring the aerodynamic benefits of pointed vs. conical nose cones, as well as the effects of length-to-width ratios on high-speed performance. However, existing studies have not systematically analyzed the impact of varying the geometric ratios of a single cone-shaped header on the surrounding airflow characteristics. Using numerical simulation methods, this paper examines the aerodynamic properties of cone-shaped headers with length-to-width ratios of 2:1, 4:1, and 8:1, while maintaining constant inflow conditions and other parameters. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted by using ANSYS Fluent software to generate velocity distribution plots around the different header configurations. The results show that as the header aspect ratio increases, the airflow distribution becomes more uniform, the boundary layer separation point moves further aft, and the vortex regions gradually diminish. Specifically, the 2:1 aspect ratio header exhibited a large velocity gradient, early boundary layer separation, and intense vortex formation, indicating relatively poor aerodynamic performance. In contrast, the 8:1 aspect ratio header demonstrated the most favorable aerodynamic characteristics, with the most uniform velocity distribution, the latest boundary layer separation point, and minimal vortex generation. These findings suggest that increasing the length-to-width ratio of cone-shaped headers can significantly improve their aerodynamic performance, reduce drag, and enhance the efficiency and fuel economy of aerospace vehicles. The insights provided by this research offer an important foundation for further optimizing header designs. Future work could expand the analysis to three-dimensional simulations, incorporate experimental validation, and explore the aerodynamic characteristics under hypersonic conditions, further advancing the understanding of header aerodynamic behavior to better inform aerospace vehicle design.