THE EFFECT OF LEADING EDGE ROUNDING ON A CARET WAVERIDER CONFIGURATION AT MACH 8.2

摘要

This paper presents a computational study,with some experimental validation, into theaerodynamic effects of the rounding off of theleading edge of a Caret type waverider athypersonic speed.The study has confirmed that, at the Mach8.2 conditions investigated here, the roundingoff of the sharp leading edge of a Caret typewaverider results in a significant degradation ofits lifting capability, both at its designorientation, and at positive angles of attack.Increasing the leading edge radius acts toreduce the lift coefficient, the lift to drag ratioand the pitching moment about the nose, at allangles of attack up to 15°.