Simulating the aerodynamic characteristics of the Land Speed Record vehicle BLOODHOUND SSC

This paper describes the application of a parallel finite-volume compressible Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics solver to the complex aerodynamic problem of a land-based supersonic vehicle, BLOODHOUND SSC. This is a complex aerodynamic problem because of the supersonic rolling ground, the rotating wheels and the shock waves in close proximity to the ground. The computational fluid dynamics system is used to develop a mature vehicle design from the initial concept stage, and the major aerodynamic design changes are identified. The paper’s focus, however, is on the predicted aerodynamic behaviour of the finalised (frozen) design which is currently being manufactured. The paper presents a summary of the data bank of predicted aerodynamic behaviours that will be used as the benchmark for vehicle testing and computational fluid dynamics validation throughout 2015 and 2016 in an attempt to achieve a Land Speed Record of 1000 mile/h (approximately Mach 1.3). The computational fluid dynamics predictions indicate that the current design has a benign lift distribution across the whole Mach range of interest and a sufficiently low drag coefficient to achieve this objective. It also indicates that the fin is sized appropriately to achieve the static margin requirements for directional stability. The paper concludes by presenting the impact of feeding the detailed computational fluid dynamics predictions into the overall vehicle performance model together with recommendations for further computational fluid dynamics study.