An Integrated High Altitude Plume/Hardbody Interaction Model

The modeling and simulation of the IR signatures and six degree-of-freedom trajectory dynamics of objects associated with theater and strategic ballistic missiles is an area of major concern for the development and testing of effective missile defense systems. Current state-of-the-art MDA models are highly capable and model a variety of complex effects including: IR radiation emitted from missile-associated object plumes and hardbodies; transient thermal response of hardbody surfaces, including the influence of ascent and reentry heating; dynamic/tumbling motion of missile-associated objects and their interaction with the atmosphere; influence of solar radiation, earthshine, and plumeshine, etc. However, one technical area which current models do not address is the interaction of missile-associated objects with thruster plumes. The goal of this effort is to formulate an approach to accurately model these plume/object interactions, to demonstrate the feasibility of performing this modeling, and to develop a software integration plan to create, test, validate, and demonstrate such a model. The end product of Phase II will be a validated set of coupled modeling and simulation tools for addressing the influence of plume/body interactions on IR signatures, plume flowfield and object trajectory dynamic characteristics, and object thermal response for missile defense scenarios of interest to MDA. This will include coupling of plume flowfield models, object aerodynamics, aeroheating, thermal response, and 6-Dof trajectory dynamics. The final set of tools will include both fast-running, engineering level simulation capabilities (based on the AFRL ATAP, CHAMP/FLITES, and SPF/CHARM codes type codes), and longer running high fidelity flowfield methods (such as the SOCRATES-P DSMC code and the AFRL AVUS thermochemical nonequilibrium unstructured grid Navier-Stokes code). The coupling of the 6-Dof trajectory and thermal response modules with the flowfield codes will be done in a generalized manner such that any appropriate flowfield tool (NS code, DSMC, other) can be simply interfaced by writing the needed output in a predefined database format.