Performance comparison between waverider and wide-speed-range gliding vehicle based on CFD approaches

Wide-speed-range gliding vehicle (WSRGV) is designed to adapt to the variable cruising environment that hypersonic vehicles will encounter during the mission implementation. Based on the cone-derived theory, a novel design technique of WSRGV has been developed. Theoretically, the functional relationship between cone-derived waverider’s volumetric efficiency and its design Mach number can be built through sampling approach as long as the geometries of design conical shock wave and the upper base curve are fixed. Based on the functional relationship, a cone-derived waverider that owns the same volumetric efficiency with a giving WSRGV can be acquired. This paper compared the aerodynamic performance between WSRGV and the cone-derived waverider sharing the same volumetric efficiency in a wide Mach number range. Their aerodynamic properties versus angle of attack have also been compared under the waverider’s design Mach number. The obtained result shows that WSRGV shares similar aerodynamic performance with the cone-derived waverider with the same volumetric efficiency. The aero-surfaces in the margin area of this kind of configuration have a larger contribution to the lift-to-drag ratio in comparison with the aero-surfaces in the central area. The configuration with a thick central body and thin margin place owns not only better aerodynamic performance but also better loading property.