Accession Number:

ADP011186

Title:

Wind Tunnel Model Design and Test Using Rapid Prototype Materials and Processes

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIV LAUREL MD APPLIED PHYSICS LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Heisier, Richard R.
• Ratliff, Clifford L.

Report Date:

2001-07-23

Pagination or Media Count:

13.0

Abstract:

Whether an airframe is a new design, modification of an existing design, or evaluation of a competing or foreign design, an accurate, high-confidence representation of the airframe aerodynamics is paramount to any low-risk design or evaluation effort. These aerodynamic estimates are used for vehicle and component sizing, performance estimates, and autopilot design and evaluation. The advent of new rapid prototyping manufacturing techniques and materials could provide a means to reduce the cost associated with the acquisition of a wind tunnel model WTM, provided the data obtained with the rapid prototype model RPM were of sufficient fidelity to justify its use. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory JHUAPL has developed a WTM design that consists of a steel strongback with rapid prototype plastic components attached to it to provide the overall vehicle configuration. In a test at the Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire ControlDallas High-Speed Wind Tunnel HSWT, this model designated RPM-01 demonstrated acceptable data quality and test-to-test data repeatability with a geometrically similar steel and aluminum model. RPM-01 was built for approximately a quarter of the cost and a fraction of the time required of the all-metal high-fidelity model.

Descriptors:

• *ANTIMISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• SIMULATION
• KILL PROBABILITIES
• TARGET DISCRIMINATION
• LASER APPLICATIONS
• AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS
• AIRFRAMES
• TEMPERATURE CONTROL
• GUIDANCE
• LETHALITY
• INTERCEPTORS
• FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS
• SURVEILLANCE
• AUTOMATIC PILOTS
• DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS
• WIND TUNNEL MODELS
• TARGET DESIGNATORS

Subject Categories:

• Antimissile Defense Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE