Analytical off-design lift-to-drag-ratio analysis for hypersonic waveriders

An analytical, power-law-derived, waverider wing theory model is developed for studying the lift-to-drag-ratio characteristics of a rocket-powered wav erider with a two-dimensional (planar) shock structure, Some inherent benef its of the modeling method are explored, such as the decoupling of the vehi cle length and planform shape from the other components in the lift-to-drag -ratio equation. Other factors affecting lift-to-drag ratio are also invest igated, including off-design angle-of-attack performance and sensitivity, o ff-design Math number performance, altitude effects, base-pressure consider ations, length-scale effects, and planform bluntness effects (i.e., spatula te vs caret-style waverider configurations). The vehicle aerodynamics are d erived in a manner that results in a similarity solution in which all resul ts are independent of the width of the vehicle. This similarity allows for easy vehicle scaling once a desirable configuration has been determined.