Numerical Simulations of Store SeparationTrajectories Using the EGLIN Test

 

Yunus Emre Sunay

Emrah Gülay

Ali Akgül

 

One of the most important topics for missile development projects is safe separation of the missile from air vehicles. Store separation tests are expensive, time consuming and dangerous since tests can end up with fatal accidents; therefore, safe separation simulations and missile trajectory predictions by using numerical methods became a critical issue. In this study, the EGLIN test case is used to validate the predicted trajectory of a store separated from a wing. The EGLIN test case is a generic store separation test case and most commonly used in the validation of trajectory prediction tools. the experiments were performed in the transonic (M=0.95) and supersonic (M=1.2) flow regimes. The EGLIN store separation test case is simulated by using the time-dependent Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis. Coupled six degree of freedom (6DOF) and flow solvers are used to predict the store trajectory. In addition, Navier-Stokes and Euler computations are performed to investigate the viscous effects on the store trajectory analysis.

Key words: computational fluid dynamics, numerical simulation, Navier-Stokes equations, air missile, store trajectory, store separation, EGLIN test.