Sonic Boom Prediction Using Euler / Full Potential Methodology

Sonic Booms of two different bodies, a double cone configuration and a modified F5E aircraft are predicted using Euler solvers for the near field, and a Full Potential Propagation method for the far field. Shock fitting and grid adaptation are used to enhance accuracy of computations. The far field propagation code using the full potential equation is the first three-dimensional CFD code in literature that can march the solution with atmospheric changes in temperature and pressure taken into account. The non-linearity and non-axisymmetry of the Full Potential propagation code are its superiorities against the available “state-of-the-art” prediction methods that utilize the linear “ray-tracing” approach. The following work presents a new sonic boom prediction methodology using three dimensional CFD, with comparisons to experimental results for the double cone and for the modified F-5E aircraft. There is excellent agreement between computational and experimental results. Nomencalture � = density 123 ,, uu u = cartesian velocity components e = energy per unit mass p = static pressure � = velocity potential � = gas index, taken to be 1.4 for air h = distance from aircraft