Wing leading-edge design concepts for airbreathing hypersonic waveriders

Wing leading-edge structural concepts are considered in this article for a specific Mach 5 waverider cruise vehicle. Design tradeoffs, such as making the leading edges sharp enough for acceptable aerodynamic and propulsion efficiency, yet blunt enough for acceptable aerodynamic heating, are discussed. Aerodynamic heating distributions are calculated for two locations on the leading edge of the vehicle. Several structural concepts are discussed and a particular concept is studied. Temperature and thermal stress distributions are calculated for a simple wing leading-edge concept consisting of an uninsulated hot structure. Techniques for reducing thermal stresses are discussed.

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