Flow Topology and Boundary-layer Transition Signatures over a Reusable Launch Vehicle Using Temperature-sensitive Paint

The paper demonstrates the application of eosin Y-based temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) to visualize flow topology over a reusable launch vehicle (RLV) under low-speed aerodynamic conditions relevant to the landing regime. The RLV has a strake-delta wing with two vertical fins anchored to the fuselage. Strake and leading-edge vortices emerge on the wings, and a horseshoe vortex occurs at the fin-fuselage junction. The TSP method captures the footprint and trajectory of the above vortices. Furthermore, it identifies signatures of natural laminar to turbulent transition over the fuselage. The above flow topologies are studied at various angles of attack, sideslip angles, and free-stream velocities. The previous surface oil-flow visualization data are in good qualitative agreement with the conclusions drawn from the TSP measurements. On the whole, we present the TSP method as a promising complementary surface flow visualization technique in addition to the existing ones. This study demonstrates the unique capability of eosin Y-based TSP to simultaneously identify vortex footprints, trajectories, and transitions over a complex RLV configuration.

کلیدواژه ها:

Temperature-sensitive paint ، Reusable launch vehicles ، Strake-delta wing vortex ، Laminar to turbulent transition ، Oil flow visualization