Combining experimental data, computational fluid dynamics, and six-degree of freedom simulation to develop a guidance actuator for a supersonic projectile

Abstract

A joint effort between the Georgia Tech Research Institute and the Army Research Lab successfully used a combination of numerical and experimental results to demonstrate the performance of a guidance actuator for a supersonic projectile. The use of computational and experimental approaches greatly enhanced the understanding of how the actuators worked as well enabled the program to be completed for a lower cost than if either the modelling or the experiments had been neglected. Wind tunnel experiments were used with computational fluid dynamics results to provide aerodynamic coefficients for six-degree of freedom (6-DOF) simulations. The 6-DOF simulations were used to predict the performance of the projectile in the range, thus ensuring that good range data were acquired and reducing the necessary number of set-up rounds. It was found that there were cases where experimental methods were necessary, although the modelling provided the researchers with a greater detail of flow interactions and provided forces that were difficult to measure.