Development of a High-Speed Environment Modeling and Simulation Framework

High-speed systems for defense, strike, as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance use onboard sensors in order to perform their mission. The signature of a high-speed missile is affected by the unique phenomena associated with the high-speed flow physics that has not been fully understood. Of particular interest are electro-optic (EO)/infrared (IR) and the radio frequency (RF) spectra. In the optical portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, aero-optical effects are dominant. In the mid to long wave IR spectrum thermal radiation will dominate, and radio frequency will be influenced by plasma effects occurring at Mach 10 and above. CFD Research Corporation in collaboration with Kinetics Inc. and Prof. Iain Boyd has proposed to develop a fast-running numerical modeling and simulation framework to quantify and maps high-speed flow effects based on the computed distortions of target signatures. During Phase I efforts, a fast-running hypersonic environment analysis tool (HEAT) will be coupled with the fast line-of-sight imagery for target and exhaust plume signatures (FLITES) and an infrared interference model will be developed. Due to the fast execution times of HEAT, the proposed solution will enable to evaluate high-speed flow effects along a trajectory. The U.S. Air Force will receive a DoD-open-source toolkit.