Simulation of flow field characteristics in gap between high-speed rocket sled slipper and track

Abstract

Abstract. Accurate simulation of flow field characteristics within the gap between the slipper and track is essential for the prevention of aerodynamic heat damage to high-speed rocket sleds. A three-dimensional structured mesh was utilized to establish the flow field model in the slipper-track gap, while computational fluid dynamics was employed for simulating the flow field movement. The results revealed that the bow shock wave at the head of the rocket sled has a significant influence on the flow field characteristics within the gap. Specifically, the velocity of the mainstream in the gap initially exhibited an increasing trend, followed by a decreasing trend, and then a re-increase. Conversely, the mainstream temperature displayed a decreasing trend initially, followed by an increasing trend, and then a decrease once more. The air compression within the slipper-track gap resulted in remarkably high temperatures, with the maximum temperature reaching 1160 K at Ma = 4 in the immediate vicinity of the slipper. The current investigation provides valuable insights that can guide future research on the structural characteristics of slippers in high-temperature environments.