A CFD-Driven Design Exploration and Aerodynamic Analysis of a Novel SR-72 Variant

Hypersonic vehicles hold significant promises for advancements in aviation and defense, yet face complex aerodynamic challenges, particularly in managing shock waves. This work presents a new version of the SR-72 that is intended to overcome these difficulties by means of an extensive Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) investigation. This study investigates the aerodynamic behavior of a novel SR-72 variant's diamond shaped airfoil designed for hypersonic flight using a two-stage approach. The first stage meticulously models the diamond shaped airfoil along with the aircraft geometry in OpenVSP, incorporating swept wings and optimized leading/trailing edges for shock mitigation. The second stage utilizes advanced CFD simulations across various angles of attack to analyze shock formation, pressure distribution, and their impact on aerodynamic forces. To validate these simulations and gain deeper insights into shock behavior, we conduct experimental flow visualization on a separate double wedge airfoil using schlieren photography. By comparing the measured shock deflection angle with theoretical and CFD-derived values, we assess the accuracy of simulations and identify potential discrepancies. This combined approach provides valuable insights into shock wave interaction with the optimized double wedge airfoil geometry, informing the design of the SR-72 variant. Ultimately, this research contributes to hypersonic vehicle design by offering knowledge to refine the SR-72 for minimized shock impact, leading to more efficient, stable, and maneuverable hypersonic aircraft.