Threshold Modification of Curvature Distribution in Osculating-Cone Waverider Design

In osculating-cone waverider design, the curvature distribution of the Inlet Capture Curve (ICC) is uneven sometimes, resulting in irregularity of waveriding surfaces, such as surface wrinkle, curling, and intersection. These problems affect the applicability of waveriders dramatically. This study, accordingly, proposes a threshold modification method to alter the curvature distribution of ICC, aiming to maintain the original trend of the curvature distribution. This method is performed, when the variation between adjacent curvature radii is too much, by setting a threshold value to diminish the variation. The modification approach enables an even curvature distribution, accounting for smooth waveriding surface. In addition, there are only two design variables in this modification method, and thus, it is easy to be implemented. Several configurations, modified by this method, were analyzed using computational fluid dynamics techniques and compared with the original waverider. Results showed that the extent to destroy the waverider effect is minimized by maintaining the original trend of curvature distribution. Moreover, the applicability of the osculating-cone method can be improved by employing this method since it changes the lengths of curvature radii for some unfeasible ICCs.