The novel ground-based magnetically levitated electromagnetic propulsion high-speed scientific research and test facility (referred to as the electromagnetic sled) provides a new approach for aerodynamic tests of high-speed equipment such as aircraft. To address the core key issue of mathematical characterization of aerodynamic drag, lift and pitching moment of the electromagnetic sled vehicle body, this paper conducts a systematic analysis on the aerodynamic characteristics of the facility’s vehicle body under subsonic and transonic operating conditions based on the three-dimensional viscous compressible Navier–Stokes equations. By analyzing flow field contours and comparing aerodynamic forces, the influences of operating speed, ground effect and pitching angle variation on the aerodynamic characteristics of the electromagnetic propulsion facility are investigated.

The results show that the ground effect significantly increases the aerodynamic lift of the vehicle body, and a reasonably designed vehicle fairing can effectively reduce aerodynamic lift and balance the pitching moment. When the vehicle operates at supersonic speed, obvious shock waves are generated at the head; the aerodynamic drag increases significantly with the increase of Mach number, the aerodynamic lift first decreases and then increases with increasing Mach number, and the pitching moment exhibits complex variation characteristics. The numerical simulation results can provide important technical support for the optimal design of super-high-speed maglev electromagnetic propulsion facility.