Study on the optimization and aerodynamics characteristics analysis for AHW analog boost gliding vehicle

AHW has been attracting more and more attention since its first hypersonic boost-glide flight test by the United States succeeds. In this paper, studies were performed on aerodynamics configuration optimization about biconic body with cruciform small size flaps. The basic configuration was generated by parameterized modeling method and the orthogonal design was adopted to conduct the parameter sensitivity analysis. Numerical simulations were performed to verify the results and analysis of the optimization. In addition to, the optimized biconic body was achieved by multi-objective optimization method. Based on the optimized configuration, the analysis of aerodynamic characteristics and the aerodynamic control surface matching, press center, mass center location, corresponding control efficiency under global constraint condition, and heat protection requirement are conducted. Moreover, the configuration design advice was given. The analysis shows that the proposed vehicle is optimized with higher lift, lift to drag ratio and volumetric efficiency, as well as better trimming and control efficiency. The result indicates that a glide vehicle with biconic body and cruciform small size flaps is one of the possible choices for hypersonic boost glide. The configuration needs to be further investigated.