ISSN Online: 2688-7231
ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-478-6
Proceedings of the 24th National and 2nd International ISHMT-ASTFE Heat and Mass Transfer Conference (IHMTC-2017)
EFFECT OF RETRO JET FIRING ON THE AERODYNAMICS OF A WING BODY CONFIGURATION AT INSTANT OF SEPARATION
Abstract
Launch vehicles consist of multiple stages to enhance the
payload capability. As the vehicle gains altitude, the spent
stages are separated from the ongoing stages. There are several mechanisms to separate the spent stages from the ongoing stages, namely drag assisted separation, springseparation
and jet-assisted separation. The vehicle that is considered for the present study is a wing body configuration which is taken to a desired altitude by a booster motor. The booster is separated from the ongoing vehicle by firing retro motors located at the aft end of the booster. Motors are placed
circumferentially at diametrically opposite locations in such a
way that the direction of net thrust due to the retro firing is
opposite to the direction of the vehicle thrust. Flow
simulations over this vehicle are carried out to understand the
flow physics at the instant of separation. It is observed that
due to ignition of the retro motors, the vehicle faces high
thermal environment besides changes in aerodynamic force and moment coefficients.