Using magnetic fields generated by hypersonic vehicles to reduce drag and aerodynamic heating during re-entry.
Drag reduction
Design-driven placement
Re-entry vehicles
Overview
The HAVA Lab is investigating how magnetic fields produced by hypersonic vehicles can reduce the drag forces experienced during re-entry. Through an extensive campaign of computationally demanding simulations, ideal locations for the magnetic fields have been determined with a design-driven approach, aiming at a product that companies and organizations in the field can readily adopt.
This method of drag reduction relies on modifying viscous action at the surface, which is the main source of aerodynamic force on streamlined bodies at small angles of attack. Similar technology may also be applied to larger spacecraft, such as SpaceX’s Starship, to reduce aerodynamic heating at control surfaces.
Results
2 figures
MHD controlSimulation
Magnetic drag reduction during re-entry
Placement of magnetic fields chosen by a design-driven simulation campaign to reduce viscous drag.
Through an extensive campaign of demanding simulations, ideal locations for the magnetic fields have been found with a design-driven approach. The drag reduction works by modifying viscous action at the surface, the main source of aerodynamic force on streamlined bodies at small angles of attack.
2 figures
