Numerical Prediction of Acoustic Load Around a Hammerhead Launch Vehicle at Transonic Speed

During atmospheric ascent of a launch vehicle, airborne acoustic loads act on the vehicle and its effect becomes pronounced at transonic speed. In the present study, acoustic loads acting on a hammerhead launch vehicle at a transonic speed have been analyzed using k-omega SST based IDDES and the results including mean Cp, Cp-rms, and PSD are compared to available wind-tunnel test data. Mesh dependency of IDDES results has been investigated and it has been concluded that with an appropriate turbulence scale-resolving computational mesh, the characteristic flow features around a transonic hammerhead launch vehicle such as separated shear flow at fairing shoulder and its reattachment on rear body as well as large pressure fluctuation in the region of separated flow behind the boat-tail can be predicted with reasonable accuracy for engineering purposes.