Improved Sonic Boom Scaling Algorithm

Recent flight testing of the DARPA funded Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstrator (SSBD) showed that the non-N-wave shaped sonic boom signatures predicted by theory will persist through the atmosphere, and has reinvigorated interest in the development of a new generation of supersonic cruise aircraft. Since the development and operational cost of flight test vehicles are proportional to their size and weight there is a strong fiscal incentive for establishing sonic boom acceptability criteria using sub-scale test aircraft. However, it is essential that the acoustic characteristics of the full scale aircraft be accurately reproduced by the sub-scale tests. A remarkable scaling concept has been found by including Mach number as an independent variable. The improved sonic boom signature scaling reproduces not only the peak overpressure and duration of the signature shaping, but also the details of the shape distribution. Application of this improved sonic boom scaling concept enables the development of a more cost effective approach to low sonic boom flight demonstration with high confidence for accurately demonstrating the correct acoustic characteristics of larger scale future production aircraft.

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