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David McKinnon
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Advisor: Dr. D. W. Riggins, Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Abstract
The effects of flow-field energy deposition on the aerodynamic pitching moment of both a flat plate at angle of attack in Mach 5 air flow and two-dimensional airfoil-like geometry at angle of attack in Mach 10 air flow are numerically studied, using a laminar two-dimensional Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The spatial location of energized zones within the flow is varied in order to attempt to maximize impact on the pitching moment; also addressed are the effectiveness of energy deposition on generating changes in pitching moments for varying angles of attack and varying levels of energy input into the flow. For the case of heated zones impacting the body or shape, the inherent transient effects of the flowfield with energy deposition are also studied, including the time required for the flowfield to achieve the largest change in pitching moment, and the time dependant function of moment in the presence of energy deposition. Note that there are two possible applications of such a technique (large changes in pitching moment using energy deposition in the stream); 1) stabilization and control of vehicles or surfaces at very high speeds and angles of attack and 2) purposely aerodynamically destabilizing oncoming vehicles (military applications).
David McKinnon is originally from Wright City MO, and is a junior in aerospace engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is an active participant in the AAVG design team, which competes every year at NASA's USLI competition. He hopes to work on the next generation of space access vehicles.
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