Publications Details
Center of pressure calculations for a bent-axis vehicle
Bent-axis maneuvering vehicles provide a unique type of control for a variety of supersonic and hypersonic missions. Unfortunately, large hinge moments, incomplete pitching moment predictions, and a misunderstanding of corresponding center of pressure calculations have prevented their application. A procedure is presented for the efficient design of bent-axis vehicles given an adequate understanding of origins of pitching moment effects. In particular,sources of pitching moment contributions will be described including not only normal force, but inviscid axial force and viscous effects as well. Off-centerline center of pressure effects are first reviewed for symmetric hypersonic sphere-cone configurations. Next the effects of the bent-axis geometry are considered where axial force, acting on the deflected tail section, can generate significant pitching moment components. The unique relationship between hinge moments and pitching moments for the bent-axis class of vehicles is discussed. 15 refs.