There is little relevant existing experience to assist the design of a supersonic land vehicle, apart from the Thrust SSC data. Hence, CFD studies will form a crucial component of the aerodynamic design process for the BLOODHOUND SSC. Extensive CFD analysis will be required to provide an understanding of the general aerodynamic characteristics of the proposed shape, at all speeds, including predicting the likely vertical, lateral and drag forces on the vehicle and its pitch and yaw stability. During the BLOODHOUND Project, engineers at the School of Engineering, Swansea University, will be employing CFD to assist at each stage of the aerodynamic design process. The new challenges posed by the BLOODHOUND Project imply that this will require significant enhancement of the FLITE system.

 

The enhancements that are envisaged will be aimed at improving the predictive capability of FLITE in a number of areas that are considered to be important for BLOODHOUND SSC's design. These include updated turbulence modelling and enabling the analysis of the interaction between the wheels and the ground. Improvements will also be needed to ensure that supersonic flows can be accurately simulated. Further, as BLOODHOUND SSC may cause fluidisation of the desert surface as supersonic speeds are approached, methods for predicting the additional drag caused by this phenomenon will be investigated. These advanced research developments, which will take place in parallel with the development of the vehicle, will be crucial if the target speed is to be achieved safely. Crucially, the predictive capability of the updated FLITE system will be critically analysed using the data generated by the BLOODHOUND SSC during actual runs on the desert surface. Following this analysis, new simulations may be required and these may result in a change to the vehicle design, before runs at higher speeds are attempted.

 

An initial BLOODHOUND SSC design concept provided a platform from which to begin the process of optimisation of the vehicle shape. To aid this process, CFD has already been used in a number of different areas, including addressing specific problems related to the engine intake, the wheels, the nose and the winglets, together with a number of initial full vehicle simulations.

 

BLOODHOUND Design   Engine Intake Design   Wheel Design   Nose Design   Base Drag   Winglet Design   Vehicle Sensitivity Analysis