ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL MODEL FOR AIRCRAFT CANOPY TRAJECTORY

The proposed project will provide state-of-the-art computational tools for comprehensive simulation of a jettisoned aircraft canopy during an emergency egress. The proposed methodology uses an existing CFD code for detailed aerodynamic analysis of the canopy near and away form the aircraft. From the CFD analysis, aerodynamic coeeficient tables will be generated to be used in the Navy 6D0F trajectory simulation code, ACCESS. The ACCESS program, which provides full featured escape system simulation for ejection seats and capsules will be modified to evaluate jettisoned canopy simulations. In Phase I, the canopy trajectory simulation input and parameters will be identified including the selection of most suitable CFD gridding and solution techniques. The proposed CFD methodology has been successfully used to predict aerodynamic behavior of ejection seats and capsules. Predictions agree well with available data. The CFD code and its interfacing with ACCESS will be demonstrated in Phase I on a selected canopy and aircraft. In Phase II, the CFD and ACCESS codes wil be modified an dextensively validated and used ot analyze the jettisoned aircraft canopy.