Aerodynamic characteristics of a free-flight scramjet vehicle in shock tunnel

Abstract A multi-component aerodynamic test for an airframe-engine integrated scramjet vehicle model was conducted in the free-piston shock tunnel HIEST. free-flight force measurement technique applied to named MoDKI. new method using multiple piezoelectric accelerometers developed based on overdetermined system analysis. Its unique features are following: (1) The accelerometer’s mounting location can be more flexible. (2) precision is predicted improved by increasing number of accelerometers. (3) angular acceleration obtained with single-axis translational instead gyroscopes. (4) Through averaging process accelerometers, natural vibration expected mitigated. With eight model-onboard three-component coefficients (Drag, Lift, and Pitching moment) MoDKI were successfully measured at angle attack from 0.7 3.4 degrees under a Mach 8 free-stream flow condition. linear regression fitting revealed 95% prediction interval as each coefficient. Graphical abstract