Shockwave Interaction Computational Modeling
Faculty Mentor Name
Nazir Gandur, Desirae Grumbine
Format Preference
Poster
Abstract
The topic of supersonic shockwave interaction modeling has had little research dedicated to it. In 201 9, NASA re leased the first air-to-air Schlieren shadowgraph image of oblique shockwaves forming on a pair of T-38 jet trainers, which provided a visualization of the shocks' effects on air. Oblique shockwave interactions can have drastic effects on an aircraft's performance. This study asks the question: Can computational modeling of oblique shockwave interactions enhance the aerodynamic design of supersonic aircraft? To answer this question, three objectives are proposed: first, to determine the airflow properties before, during, and after two shockwaves interact; second, to visually model the formation and interaction of the two shockwaves; and third, to calculate the weak/strong interactions and their effects on the air, and thus the aircraft. A model was constructed with Python to determine the airflow properties before, during, and after the shockwaves interacted. Then, the model was expanded to generate an animation visualizing the formation of two oblique shockwaves . Finally, a deep analysis was conducted for weak and strong shockwaves using the difference in entropy with the two solutions for the shockwave deflection angle. The airflow properties of the model between shockwaves were consistent, showing it is an accurate and rapid method of implementation. The work demonstrated that oblique shockwaves can be accurately computer modeled and provides a base for expansion into improving aerodynamic design of supersonic aircraft and incorporating machine learning into the model.
Shockwave Interaction Computational Modeling
The topic of supersonic shockwave interaction modeling has had little research dedicated to it. In 201 9, NASA re leased the first air-to-air Schlieren shadowgraph image of oblique shockwaves forming on a pair of T-38 jet trainers, which provided a visualization of the shocks' effects on air. Oblique shockwave interactions can have drastic effects on an aircraft's performance. This study asks the question: Can computational modeling of oblique shockwave interactions enhance the aerodynamic design of supersonic aircraft? To answer this question, three objectives are proposed: first, to determine the airflow properties before, during, and after two shockwaves interact; second, to visually model the formation and interaction of the two shockwaves; and third, to calculate the weak/strong interactions and their effects on the air, and thus the aircraft. A model was constructed with Python to determine the airflow properties before, during, and after the shockwaves interacted. Then, the model was expanded to generate an animation visualizing the formation of two oblique shockwaves . Finally, a deep analysis was conducted for weak and strong shockwaves using the difference in entropy with the two solutions for the shockwave deflection angle. The airflow properties of the model between shockwaves were consistent, showing it is an accurate and rapid method of implementation. The work demonstrated that oblique shockwaves can be accurately computer modeled and provides a base for expansion into improving aerodynamic design of supersonic aircraft and incorporating machine learning into the model.