Applied computational fluid dynamics (ACFD) in support of aircraft-store compatibility and weapons integration

The Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office (AFSEO) at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), FL, performs test and evaluation for aircraft/stores compatibility certification. The AFSEO uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in support of the aircraft and store certification process. The AFSEO performs engineering analyses, develops flight test profiles, and directs real-time flight tests in support of the aircraft and store certification process. AFSEO engineering analyses areas include carriage loads, store separations, flutter, ballistics, stability and control, and electromagnetic. Each of these engineering disciplines, with the exception of ectromagnetic, is dependent on aerodynamic data to drive simulation tools. AFSEO uses these analytical tools to analyze the carriage and employment of stores from both advanced fighter and bomber aircraft. CFD is an effective tool that provides high fidelity aerodynamic data and is also used to supplement store trajectory prediction analyses. The AFSEO has developed a capability that utilizes CFD to provide high-fidelity aerodynamics in support of the store certification process. By supplementing inexpensive lower order methods and costly, subscale testing, CFD has been used to reduce the certification costs, increase flight test safety margins, and develop more confidence in the numerical predictions that lead to the determination of flight test requirements. CFD has been used within the AFSEO to calculate aircraft/store carriage loads, predict store separation characteristics, and to visualize the flow field phenomena of complex aircraft and weapon configurations. We discuss the AFSEO CFD activities as they were applied to specific aircraft/store certification projects.