Aerodynamic performance enhancement by lateral blowing for reusable launch vehicles

An experimental study on the improvement of aerodynamic characteristics of RLVs (Reusable Launch Vehicles) due to lateral blowing has been conducted. A square and a triangular cross sections of fuselage have been considered in order to investigate effects of shape of cross section of fuselage on aerodynamic characteristics during lateral blowing. And four different planform wings have been considered to evaluate effects on planform of wing during lateral blowing. Results show that lateral blowing increases lift of the models over a wide range of angle of attack. Especially a significant increase in lift is achieved in the case of a "square" model at high angle of attack. Increase of lift due to lateral blowing is obtained in all wing types over a wide range of angle of attack. The resulting lift of the model with small sweepback angle and a rectangular wing is lager than that of the other wings in high angle of attack region. As a result of calculation of landing process, lateral blowing makes possible a shorter landing distance or a smaller landing velocity of a RLV.