Modeling satellite drag coefficients with response surfaces

Satellite drag coefficients are a major source of uncertainty in predicting the drag force on satellites in low Earth orbit. Among other things, accurately predicting the orbit requires detailed knowledge of the satellite drag coefficient. Computational methods are an important tool in computing the drag coefficient but are too intensive for real-time and predictive applications. Therefore, analytic or empirical models that can accurately predict drag coefficients are desired. This work uses response surfaces to model drag coefficients. The response surface methodology is validated by developing a response surface model for the drag coefficient of a sphere where the closed-form solution is known. The response surface model performs well in predicting the drag coefficient of a sphere with a root mean square percentage error less than 0.3% over the entire parameter space. For more complex geometries, such as the GRACE satellite, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the International Space Station, the model errors are only slightly larger at about 0.9%, 0.6%, and 1.0%, respectively.     

几何和流动参数对上翘后体阻力系数的影响

利用N-S方程对9个上翘后体模型进行了气动力计算,主要研究后体几何参数和流动参数对上翘后体阻力系数的影响.研究结果表明, 后体的压差阻力系数分别随上翘角、收缩比的增加及迎角的减小而明显增加;后体摩擦阻力系数分别随后体的长细比的增加和雷诺数的减小而增加;后体越扁平,其压差阻力系数越大;在跨音速时,波阻系数也与上翘角有关,上翘角增加会导致波阻系数进一步加大.     

分离式飞机应急数据记录跟踪系统设计与试验

分离式飞机应急数据记录跟踪系统具备智能弹射与分离、拖曳式跟踪拍摄、缓降与应急漂浮和数据传输等功能,针对弹射和缓降等过程进行了系统设计和无人机试验验证。同时,针对伞-囊组合体的特点,分析了气囊尾流区中伞衣阻力系数的变化规律。结果表明:气囊半径和伞衣名义直径是影响伞衣阻力系数的主要因素;伞衣阻力系数随气囊半径增大而下降,随伞衣名义直径增大而上升;在气动力分析和数值模拟的基础上,确定了伞衣阻力系数的计算公式。无人机试验完成各项设计功能,系统整体方案合理可行,为后续工程应用提供了重要参考。      

低轨卫星的气动特性预测与分析

针对低轨卫星高空自由分子流区的飞行环境特征,采用GOCE卫星典型弹道下的气动数据对DSMC仿真方法进行了算例验证,并就CLL模型下不同物面反射系数对GOCE卫星流场特征及气动特性的预测差异进行了对比分析,给出不同物面反射系数对卫星阻力预测的定量差异.结果表明,本文方法所得气动阻力与文献结果吻合较好,能够在此飞行区域给出合理的气动阻力;当反射系数从0.1逐渐变化至1.0时,卫星流场的驻点区域、尾部方向舵区域压力分布逐渐从带状结构向扇形结构过渡;在所研究的工况下,随着物面反射系数的增加,摩阻系数预测结果偏大,压阻系数预测结果偏小,总阻力先增加后减小,约在反射系数0.8附近达到最大.      

机翼后缘连续变弯度对客机气动特性影响

后缘连续变弯度机翼在提高民用客机气动特性方面有较大的潜力,近年来被广泛关注。基于建立的全局优化设计系统,研究了机翼后缘连续变弯度对宽体客机翼身组合体气动特性的影响。首先,采用自由型面变形(FFD)技术建立了后缘连续变弯度的参数化方法。然后,采用RANS方程作为流场评估方法,针对翼身组合体构型设计点附近升力系数开展了机翼后缘连续变弯度气动减阻优化设计。最后,探索了仅外翼段后缘连续变弯度和内外翼后缘均连续变弯度优化设计结果的异同。优化结果表明,升力系数小于设计升力系数时,在只考虑外翼段后缘连续变弯度的设计中,不易实现激波阻力和诱导阻力同时降低,考虑内翼段后缘连续变弯度后,减阻量较前者更为明显;升力系数大于设计升力系数时,外翼段和内外翼的后缘偏转均可实现诱导阻力和激波阻力的同时降低,且减阻量相差不大。     

Drag and energy accommodation coefficients during sunspot maximum

Conditions appropriate to gas-surface interactions on satellite surfaces in orbit have not been successfully duplicated in the laboratory. However, measurements by pressure gauges and mass spectrometers in orbit have revealed enough of the basic physical chemistry that realistic theoretical models of the gas-surface interaction can now be used to calculate physical drag coefficients. The dependence of these drag coefficients on conditions in space can be inferred by comparing the physical drag coefficient of a satellite with a drag coefficient fitted to its observed orbital decay. This study takes advantage of recent data on spheres and attitude stabilized satellites to compare physical drag coefficients with the histories of the orbital decay of several satellites during the recent sunspot maximum. The orbital decay was obtained by fitting, in a least squares sense, the semi-major axis decay inferred from the historical two-line elements acquired by the US Space Surveillance Network. All the principal orbital perturbations were included, namely geopotential harmonics up to the 16th degree and order, third body attraction of the Moon and the Sun, direct solar radiation pressure (with eclipses), and aerodynamic drag, using the Jacchia-Bowman 2006 (JB2006) model to describe the atmospheric density. After adjusting for density model bias, a comparison of the fitted drag coefficient with the physical drag coefficient has yielded values for the energy accommodation coefficient as well as for the physical drag coefficient as a function of altitude during solar maximum conditions. The results are consistent with the altitude and solar cycle variation of atomic oxygen, which is known to be adsorbed on satellite surfaces, affecting both the energy accommodation and angular distribution of the reemitted molecules.     

Drag coefficient modeling for grace using Direct Simulation Monte Carlo

Drag coefficient is a major source of uncertainty in predicting the orbit of a satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO). Computational methods like the Test Particle Monte Carlo (TPMC) and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) are important tools in accurately computing physical drag coefficients. However, the methods are computationally expensive and cannot be employed real time. Therefore, modeling of the physical drag coefficient is required. This work presents a technique of developing parameterized drag coefficients models using the DSMC method. The technique is validated by developing a model for the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite. Results show that drag coefficients computed using the developed model for GRACE agree to within 1% with those computed using DSMC.     

Analysis of the orbit lifetime of CubeSats in low Earth orbits including periodic variation in drag due to attitude motion

It is estimated that more than 22,300 human-made objects are in orbit around the Earth, with a total mass above 8,400,000 kg. Around 89% of these objects are non-operational and without control, which makes them to be considered orbital debris. These numbers consider only objects with dimensions larger than 10 cm. Besides those numbers, there are also about 2000 operational satellites in orbit nowadays. The space debris represents a hazard to operational satellites and to the space operations. A major concern is that this number is growing, due to new launches and particles generated by collisions. Another important point is that the development of CubeSats has increased exponentially in the last years, increasing the number of objects in space, mainly in the Low Earth Orbits (LEO). Due to the short operational time, CubeSats boost the debris population. One of the requirements for space debris mitigation in LEO is the limitation of the orbital lifetime of the satellites, which needs to be lower than 25 years. However, there are space debris with longer estimated decay time. In LEÓs, the influence of the atmospheric drag is the main orbital perturbation, and is used in maneuvers to increment the losses in the satellite orbital energy, to locate satellites in constellations and to accelerate the decay.The goal of the present research is to study the influence of aerodynamic rotational maneuver in the CubeSat?s orbital lifetime. The rotational axis is orthogonal to the orbital plane of the CubeSat, which generates variations in the ballistic coefficient along the trajectory. The maneuver is proposed to accelerate the decay and to mitigate orbital debris generated by non-operational CubeSats. The panel method is selected to determine the drag coefficient as a function of the flow incident angle and the spinning rate. The pressure distribution is integrated from the satellite faces at hypersonic rarefied flow to calculate the drag coefficient. The mathematical model considers the gravitational potential of the Earth and the deceleration due to drag. To analyze the effects of the rotation during the decay, multiple trajectories were propagated, comparing the results obtained assuming a constant drag coefficient with trajectories where the drag coefficient changes periodically. The initial perigees selected were lower than 400 km of altitude with eccentricities ranging from 0.00 to 0.02. Six values for the angular velocity were applied in the maneuver. The technique of rotating the spacecraft is an interesting solution to increase the orbit decay of a CubeSat without implementing additional de-orbit devices. Significant changes in the decay time are presented due to the increase of the mean drag coefficient calculated by the panel method, when the maneuver is applied, reducing the orbital lifetime, however the results are independent of the angular velocity of the satellite.     

Unsteady drag measurements for flow over a circular disk

对垂直于来流方向的圆盘进行非定常测力实验,研究上游二维干扰圆杆和圆盘绕流雷诺数(雷诺数范围为0.44×10⁵~2.74×10⁵)对圆盘阻力及其脉动特性的影响.实验结果表明,无论有无上游干扰,圆盘平均阻力系数均不随雷诺数改变.上游干扰圆杆在降低圆盘阻力系数的同时,使圆盘阻力脉动量增大,而且当圆盘绕流雷诺数大于1.84×10⁵时阻力脉动量的增幅将随雷诺数的加大而迅速增加.对圆盘阻力的频谱分析表明,在圆盘上游无干扰时,圆盘绕流形成的螺旋状涡引起的非轴对称波动频率(斯特劳哈尔数为0.135)为阻力脉动的主频.     

超声速场中的反向喷流数值模拟

采用了高分辨率的N-S(Navier-Stockes) 方程数值模拟方法,对钝头体头部反向喷流进行研究.计算并分析了头部反向喷流现象中喷流马赫数、来流马赫数、攻角等因素对流场细致结构的影响,并对反向喷流减少阻力和减少气动加热的原理进行了深入分析和探讨.研究分析表明这些因素通过决定弓形激波、马赫盘的强度和位置,来影响回流区的大小和位置,从而使有反向喷流时阻力系数所受到的影响比无喷流时更大.      

双三角翼飞机气动力工程计算研究

 双三角机翼比三角机翼气动布局具有更优越的升阻特性.飞机空气动力的工程计算是用数值方法寻求飞机最优设计方案的基础.采用基于面积比思想的半经验工程算法计算了双三角翼飞机的升力系数曲线斜率、零升阻力系数和诱导阻力因子.结果经风洞试验数据校验,精度完全能满足飞机方案设计要求.算法在某改型飞机方案设计中得到了成功的应用.     

大气阻力参数修正对低轨空间目标轨道预报精度的改进

对于低轨空间目标, 大气阻力是影响轨道预报精度的主要摄动力. 本文提出了一种 基于空间环境数据和神经网络模型的空间目标大气阻力参数修正方法, 基于目 标的历史两行元根数, 通过模拟得到外推一天轨道预报中预报结果与观测数据 符合最好的阻力调制系数, 分析表明其与太阳F_10.7指数和地磁Ap指数具有很好的相关性. 根据已有数据, 构建神经网络模型, 实现对阻力调制系数 的补偿计算, 从而改进低轨目标外推一天的轨道预报. 结果表明, 神经网络模 型相比两行元根数能够更及时地对空间环境变化进行响应. 将该方案应用于天 宫一号和国际空间站的外推一天轨道预报, 验证了方案的正确性和普适性, 对 地磁扰动引起的较大预报误差改进效果更好, 误差能够降低50%~60%; 平均而言, 预报精度可以提高约30%, 改进成功率达到80%左右.      

进气道进口几何参数模糊优化设计

重点研究二维两波系超音速外压式两侧/侧腹进气道的进口几何参数的气动力/隐身一体化优化设计,主要考虑进气道的压缩板角、唇口斜切角、罩唇位置角、进口宽度、进口宽高比等进口几何参数所决定的一些气动力性能,如总压恢复系数,超音速溢流附加阻力系数及电磁散射机理如压缩楔板的表面散射、楔板及唇口的边缘绕射,采用基于目标满意度和约束满足度的模糊优化模型,进行了优化计算.      

Estimation of ballistic coefficients of low altitude debris objects from historical two line elements

This paper presents a new method for estimating ballistic coefficients (BCs) of low perigee debris objects from their historical two line elements (TLEs). The method uses the drag perturbation equation of the semi-major axis of the orbit. For an object with perigee altitude below 700 km, the variation in the mean semi-major axis derived from the TLE is mainly caused by the atmospheric drag effect, and therefore is used as the source in the estimation of the ballistic coefficient. The method is tested using the GRACE satellites, and a number of debris objects with external ballistic coefficient values, and agreements of about 10% are achieved.     

底凹结构减阻效应数值分析

为研究弹丸底凹结构的减阻机理,使用三维定常CFD方法对M910弹丸的流场特性进行了数值模拟。给出了零升阻力系数随马赫数的变化规律,所得结果与实验数据符合很好。在此基础上,为M910弹丸引入底凹结构并进行数值模拟。对比了不同弹底结构的底部流场特性,对底凹结构减阻效应的产生机理进行了分析。结果表明:亚声速下,底凹结构在底凹腔体内引入了高压“死水区”,并以“屈从”的流体边界代替了原固体底面,从而改变了尾部涡街的形成位置、形状和强度,最终增大底部压力,减小弹丸阻力;跨声速下,由于尾部涡街远离弹丸底面,固体底面与流体边界面的作用相同,使得底凹不再具有减阻效果;超声速下,底凹结构的减阻机理与底排弹丸减阻机理类似,即底凹结构中的流体为弹丸底部回流区添加质量从而达到减阻作用。      

通气位置对潜射航行体流体动力特性影响分析

基于均质平衡流理论,通过求解混合介质的RANS方程、SST湍流输运方程和各相之间的质量输运方程,开展了通气位置对潜射航行体流体动力特性影响的三维数值模拟研究,对比分析了不同通气位置条件下空泡形态特性、表面压力分布以及阻力变化特性.结果表明:当两个通气口间距增加到一定值后,在两个通气口之间区域空泡发生断裂,在断裂区域迎流面和背流面表面压力值升高,且在空泡断裂闭合位置出现压力峰值;在相同通气量条件下,随着通气口间距的增大,压差阻力系数和粘性阻力系数均呈减小趋势变化.     

操纵面加装Gurney襟翼对无人机纵向气动特性的影响

通过风洞测力实验研究了矩形Gurney襟翼对多操纵面飞翼布局无人机纵向气动特性的影响.升降副翼和襟副翼加装Gurney襟翼都会增加全机升力系数以及低头力矩系数.通过比较发现,升降副翼加装Gurney襟翼的增升效果好于襟副翼,外侧操纵面控制效果好于内侧.升降副翼和襟副翼分别组合加装Gurney襟翼会进一步提高增升效果,并且升力系数随着Gurney襟翼高度的增加而增加.鸭翼上加装Gurney襟翼可以减小全机低头力矩系数,因此鸭翼和升降副翼、襟副翼组合加装Gurney襟翼在线性段提高全机升力系数的同时,可以保持低头力矩系数增量基本为0,该特性对改善飞行器性能尤为有利.     

前掠翼气动布局中鸭翼高度影响的实验

基于前掠翼-鸭式前翼布局的风洞测力实验,分析了距离主机翼较远的鸭翼相对于主机翼的高度对布局纵向气动性能的影响.基于主机翼根弦长的雷诺数约为1.44×10⁵.实验结果表明,较大的主机翼前掠角与较低的鸭翼配合,产生的升力系数增量比较显著.低于主机翼的鸭翼将加强前掠翼布局的缓失速特性.鸭翼增大升力的同时也增大了阻力;大攻角时,鸭翼带来的阻力增量较大.高于主机翼的鸭翼对最大升阻比的改善较多,但也不宜过高.主机翼前掠角较小时,鸭翼改善和提高升阻比的效果比较明显.     

基于流动控制的水下航行体流体动力特性分析

利用CFX对水下航行体流体动力特性进行了数值模拟研究.求解了混合介质的剪切压力输运湍流模型控制方程、雷诺-平均奈维尔-斯托克斯方程以及各相间的质量输运方程,采用三维数值模拟方法对比分析了不同流动控制方案的水下航行体空泡形态特征、表面压力分布和阻力系数变化特性,讨论了不同参数对减阻效果的影响.结果表明,对于有横流作用的水下垂直发射航行体,多相流动控制不仅可以降低通气空泡的不对称性和航行体阻力,同时可以均匀迎流面和背流面压力,从而实现航行体多相流空泡形态及表面压力特性等的控制.此外,通气口的位置对减阻效果具有显著影响.      

Rarefied gas effects on the aerodynamics of high area-to-mass ratio spacecraft in orbit

The aerodynamic situation of a satellite-on-a-chip operating in low Earth orbit bears some resemblance to a classical Crookes radiometer. The large area-to-mass ratio characteristic of a SpaceChip means that very small surface-dependent forces produce non-negligible accelerations that can significantly alter its orbit. When the temperature of a SpaceChip changes, the drag force can be changed: if the temperature increases, the drag increases (and vice versa). Analytical expressions available in the literature that describe the change in drag coefficient with orbit altitude and SpaceChip temperature compare well with our direct simulation Monte Carlo results presented here. It is demonstrated that modifying the temperature of a SpaceChip could be used for relative orbit control of individual SpaceChips in a swarm, with a maximum change in position per orbit of 50 m being achievable at 600 km altitude.