Won-Cheol Kim

Computational Investigation of the Effect of Various Flight Conditions on Plume Infrared Signature

The plume infrared signature effects at various flight conditions of aircraft were investigated for the purpose of reducing infrared signature level. The nozzle of a virtual subsonic unmanned combat aerial vehicle was designed through a performance analysis. Nozzle and associated plume flowfields were first analyzed using a density-based CFD code and plume IR signature was then calculated on the basis of the narrow-band model. Finally, qualitative information for the plume infrared signature characteristics was obtained through the analysis of the IR signature effects at various flight conditions.

A Study on the Effect of Engine Nozzle Configuration on the Plume IR Signature

A study on the effect of engine nozzle configuration on the engine plume Infra-red (IR) signature characteristics is performed. Configuration design of an engine nozzle with high aspect ratio to reduce IR signature level and a cylindrical nozzle which is typically used for conventional aircraft which does not require IR signature reduction is performed. And CFD analysis for the two nozzles is performed to compare the flowfields characteristics of the two nozzles. Finally IR signature analysis for the two nozzles is accomplished to calculate the total intensity level at mid-wave infra-red and investigate the differences of IR signature characteristics between the two nozzles.

Analysis of Plume Infrared Signatures of S-Shaped Nozzle Configurations of Aerial Vehicle

The infrared susceptibility of the propulsion system of an aircraft is significantly affected by nozzle shapes and atmospheric conditions. To examine the effects of nozzle shapes and atmospheric conditions, various nozzle shapes were selected by considering a representative low-observable unmanned aerial vehicle and its propulsion system. Then, using the density-based Navier–Stokes–Fourier computational-fluid-dynamics code, the thermal flowfield and the distribution of chemical species within a plume, which are essential for the analysis of infrared signatures, were calculated. From the analysis of plume infrared signatures for noncircular nozzles, it was found that infrared signature levels were reduced significantly in the axial direction. However, relatively higher signature levels were observed on the left and right sides and below the nozzle due to increase in the aspect ratio of the nozzle outlet as well as curvature, which led to a wider distribution of the plumes along a downward slope. Further, t...

Computational Investigation of the Effect of UAV Engine Nozzle Configuration on Infrared Signature

The effects of various nozzle configurations on infrared signature are investigated for the purpose of analysing the infrared signature level of aircraft propulsion system. A virtual subsonic aircraft is selected and then a circular convergent nozzle, which meets the mission requirements, is designed. Convergent nozzles of different configurations are designed with different geometric profiles. Using a compressible Navier-Stokes-Fourier CFD code, an analysis of thermal flow field and nozzle surface temperature distribution is conducted. From the information of plume flow field and nozzle surface temperature distribution, IR signature of plume and nozzle surface is calculated through the narrow-band model and the RadThermIR code. Finally, qualitative information for IR signature reduction is obtained through the analysis of the effects of various nozzle configurations on IR signature.

Investigation of the Effects of UAV Nozzle Configurations on Aircraft Lock-on Range

韓國航空宇宙學會誌 , ** , *** Agency for Defense Development**** ABSTRACT The infrared lock-on range of target aircraft plays a critical role in determining the aircraft survivability. In this investigation, the effects of various UAV engine nozzle configurations on the aircraft lock-on range were theoretically analyzed. A virtual subsonic aircraft was proposed first, based on the mission requirement a nd the engine performance analysis, and convergent-type nozzles were then designed. After determining thermal flow field and nozzle surface temperature distribution with the CFD code, an additional analysis was conducted to predict the IR signature. Also, atmospheric transmissivity for various latitude and seasons was calculated, using the LOWTRAN code. Finally, the lock-on and lethal envelopes were calculated for different nozzle configurations, assuming the sensor threshold of the given IR guided missile. It was shown that the maximum 55.3% reduction in lock-on range is possible for deformed nozzles with the high aspect ratio.

COMPUTATIONAL INVESTIGATION OF NOZZLE FLOWFIELD IN A MICRO TURBOJET ENGINE AND ITS SCALING CHARACTERISTICS

Thermal flowfield of a micro turbojet engine was computationally investigated for exhaust nozzles with different aspect ratio and curvature. Special attention was paid to maximum and average temperature of the nozzle surface and the exhaust nozzle plume. The IR signatures of the micro turbojet engine nozzle were then calculated through the narrow-band model based on thermal flowfield data obtained through CFD analysis. Finally, in order to check the similarity of thermal flowfields and IR signature of the sub-scale micro turbojet engine model and the full-scale UCAV propulsion system, several non-dimensional parameters associated with temperature and optical property of plume were introduced. It was shown that, in spite of some differences in actual values of non-dimensional parameters, the scaling characteristics on spectral feature of IR signature and effects of aspect ratio and curvature of nozzle configuration remain similar in sub-scale and full-scale cases.

Investigation of IR Survivability of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle against Surface-to-Air Missiles

As the survivability of an aircraft in the battlefield becomes a critical issue, there is a growing need to improve the survivability of the aircraft. In this study, the survivability of an UCAV associated with plume IR signature was investigated. In order to analyze the survivability of the aircraft, the lock-on range and the lethal envelope, defined as the IR detection distance of the aircraft and the range of shooting down by the missile, respectively, were first introduced. Further, a method to calculate the lethal envelope for the scenario of surface-to-air missiles including the vertical plane was developed. The study confirmed that the red zone of an UCAV shows a substantial difference in the zone size as well as the characteristics in the upward and downward directions.

Experimental Study of a Micro Turbo Jet Engine Performance and IR Signal with Nozzle Configuration

Micro turbojet engine test and infrared signal measurement were conducted to understand the characteristics of the engine performance and infrared signal with the variants of the exhaust nozzle configuration. A cone type nozzle and five rectangle type nozzles which has aspect ratio from one to five were used for the experimental work. The results show that there are not much difference between cone and rectangle nozzles of the thrust and specific fuel consumption. However infrared signal from exhaust gas become smaller as increasing aspect ratio.

Conceptual Study of an Exhaust Nozzle of an Afterburning Turbofan Engine

ABSTRACT This paper presents a preliminary study of a convergent diver gent nozzle in an afterburning turbofan engine of a supersonic aircraft engine. In order to design a convergent divergent nozzle, cycle model of a low bypass afterburning turbofan engine of which thrust class is 29,000 lbf at a sea level static condition is established. The cycle analysis at th e design point is conducted by Gasturb 12 software and one dimensional gas properties at a downstream direction of the turbine are obtained. The dimension and configuration of an model turbofan engine are derived from take-off operation with wet reheat condition. The off-design cycle calculation is conducted at the all flight envelope on the maximum flight Mach number of 2.0 and maximum flight altitu de of 15,000 m. 초 록 초음속 항공기의 추진기관으로 이용되는 후기연소기 장착 터보팬 엔진의 축소-확대 노즐에 대한 예비연구를 수행하였다. 이를 위하여 지상정지 표준 대기에서 29,000 lbf 급의 추력을 발생시키는 저 바이패스비를 가진 후기 연소기 장착 터보팬 엔진에 대한 사이클 모델을 설정하였다 . 설정된 모델 엔진을 이용하여 Gasturb 12 소프트웨어로 설계점에 대한 성능해석을 수행하여 터빈 후방에서의 일차원 유동특성을 얻을 수 있었다. 항공기 이륙시의 최대추력 조건으로부터 바이패스 덕트와 코어엔진에서 흐르는 가스유동으로부터 엔진의 크기 및 형상에 대한 기본제원을 도출하였다. 탈 설계점 성능해석은 최대 비행 마하수 2.0, 최고 비행고도 15,000 m로 운용되는 항공기의 다양한 운용조건에 대하여 수행하였다. Key Words: Supersonic Aircraft(초음속 항공기), Afterburning Turbofan Engine(후기연소기 장착 터보팬 엔진), Convergent Divergent Nozzle(축소확대 노즐), Cycle Analysis(싸이클해석)Received 21 December 2013 / Revised 6 May 2014 / Accepted 14 Ma y 2014