Simulation of Aircraft Manoeuvres based on Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

The use of computational fluid dynamics to generate and test aerodynamic data tables for flight dynamics analysis is described in this paper. The test case used is the Ranger 2000 fighter trainer for which flight test data is available. The generation of the tables is done using sampling and reconstruction to allow a large number of table entries to be generated at low computational cost. The testing of the tables is done by replaying, through a time accurate CFD calculation which features the moving control surfaces, manoeuvres and comparing the forces and moments against the tabular values. The manoeuvres are generated using a time optimal prediction code with the feasible solutions based on the tabular aerodynamics. The generated maneouvres are evaluated against flight data to show that they are qualitatively representative. Then the time accurate and tabular aerodynamics are compared, and as expected are in close agreement.