Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Propulsion

A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310). This special issue belongs to the section "Aeronautics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1260

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Interests: hypersonic aerodynamics; combined cycle engines (RBCC, ramjet); flow stability and control; shock-wave dynamics; computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hypersonic flight, a frontier in aerospace engineering, promises to revolutionize space launch, global transportation, and defense applications. The development of reliable and efficient hypersonic vehicles, however, presents formidable scientific and engineering challenges. The extreme conditions encountered—including intense aerothermal loads, complex shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions, and real gas effects—demand a deep and nuanced understanding of the underlying flow physics.

As a key option for hypersonic propulsion, the wide-range ramjet engine is designed to achieve stable and efficient operation across a broad velocity range, from low-Mach-number launch to high-Mach-number cruise, making it a core technology for missions such as single-stage-to-orbit and long-range rapid strike. Its primary challenge lies in achieving a smooth and reliable transition between different combustion modes. Concurrently, the Rocket-Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) engine represents another critical pathway, integrating rocket and air-breathing cycles. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms governing flow pattern stability, mixing enhancement, and hysteresis effects during mode transitions is crucial for optimizing engine performance.

Another significant challenge lies in the guidance and control of these vehicles. Operating in flight environments with high dynamics and severe constraints, these systems require highly robust, fast, and precise control laws. A growing area of research is Integrated Guidance and Control (IGC) design, which moves beyond traditional architectures to synergistically optimize guidance and control actions, thereby enhancing agility and precision.

Prof. Dr. Lianjie Yue
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • hypersonic aerodynamics
  • air-breathing propulsion
  • wide-range ramjet engine
  • rocket-based combined cycle (RBCC) engine
  • integrated guidance and control (IGC)
  • flow stability and mode transition
  • aerothermodynamics
  • shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 23220 KB  
Article
Coupled Heat Transfer Analysis of Hypersonic Wide-Speed-Range Cruise Aircraft
by Shuailong Gao, Zhiyuan Ai, Shaojie Ma, Kunming Jia and Lin Gan
Aerospace 2026, 13(5), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13050459 - 13 May 2026
Abstract
Hypersonic aircraft represent a cutting-edge technology in aerospace engineering. Coupled heat transfer is a critical physical phenomenon in such aircraft. However, existing studies face challenges in predicting aerothermal behavior. Based on a specific geometric configuration, an axisymmetric model and the ideal gas assumption, [...] Read more.
Hypersonic aircraft represent a cutting-edge technology in aerospace engineering. Coupled heat transfer is a critical physical phenomenon in such aircraft. However, existing studies face challenges in predicting aerothermal behavior. Based on a specific geometric configuration, an axisymmetric model and the ideal gas assumption, this study establishes a numerical simulation model for coupled heat transfer in hypersonic wide-speed-range cruise aircraft. Through numerical simulations, the heat transfer characteristics of the aircraft under Mach numbers of 6, 7, 8 and 9 are analyzed, revealing the evolution of the temperatures at characteristic points and surfaces as the Mach number increases. Additionally, this study analyzes the heat transfer characteristics of metallic materials such as Inconel 718, 17-4PH, 93WNiFe and TA19, revealing differences in thermal protection performance among aircraft made of different materials under hypersonic conditions. Correlation functions relating nose temperature to time and surface temperatures to Mach number are fitted. The results indicate that as the Mach number increases, the aerodynamic heating temperature of the aircraft rises, and the aerodynamic heating effect at the stagnation point becomes more pronounced. Among the materials studied, 17-4PH exhibits the best overall thermal protection performance. This study provides methodological support for thermal prediction of hypersonic aircraft. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Propulsion)
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18 pages, 5123 KB  
Article
Influence of Total Temperature and Pressure on Ejector Flow Patterns in RBCC Engines
by Wannan Wu, Dehai Yu, Lianjie Yue, Keting Chen, Hao Chen and Xu Zhang
Aerospace 2026, 13(5), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13050444 - 9 May 2026
Viewed by 171
Abstract
The Rocket-Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) engine is a promising propulsion system for hypersonic and space launch applications due to its capability to operate efficiently over a broad range of flight conditions. This study investigates the influence of total temperature and total pressure on [...] Read more.
The Rocket-Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) engine is a promising propulsion system for hypersonic and space launch applications due to its capability to operate efficiently over a broad range of flight conditions. This study investigates the influence of total temperature and total pressure on flow patterns in the rocket-ejector mode of a RBCC engine using two-dimensional numerical simulations—a simplification that facilitates efficient parametric analysis while inherently omitting three-dimensional effects. The transition between stable and wavy flow patterns under the Diffusion and Afterburning (DAB) combustion mode is analyzed. Higher total temperatures enhance mixing efficiency but can induce wavy flow patterns, leading to potential instability. Conversely, increased total pressures promote stability through Fabri-choking mechanisms while reducing mixing efficiency by limiting entrainment capacity. A significant hysteresis effect is observed, where transition thresholds for stable and wavy states vary based on operational history. Key mechanisms contributing to this effect are discussed in depth, including momentum flux dynamics, Fabri-choking behavior, shock wave reformation, and mass and heat exchange processes. These findings provide critical insights for optimizing RBCC engine performance by balancing flow stability and mixing efficiency under varying conditions. This study’s insights into flow pattern dynamics, particularly the hysteresis effect, are crucial for developing robust control strategies and optimizing RBCC engine designs for hypersonic and space launch applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Propulsion)
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17 pages, 4181 KB  
Article
Shock Angle Characteristics and Test Analysis of Hypersonic Wide-Speed-Range Cruise Aircraft
by Shuailong Gao, Kunming Jia, Shaojie Ma and Zhiyuan Ai
Aerospace 2026, 13(2), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace13020170 - 11 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 553
Abstract
Hypersonic aircraft represent a cutting-edge technology in aerospace engineering, where the shock angle serves as a critical aerodynamic parameter. However, existing studies remain limited by significant prediction errors for the shock angle. This study employs a combination of numerical simulation and wind tunnel [...] Read more.
Hypersonic aircraft represent a cutting-edge technology in aerospace engineering, where the shock angle serves as a critical aerodynamic parameter. However, existing studies remain limited by significant prediction errors for the shock angle. This study employs a combination of numerical simulation and wind tunnel test techniques to analyze the shock angle characteristics of hypersonic wide-speed-range cruise aircraft. Consequently, a numerical simulation analysis model for the shock angle of such aircraft was established. Shock angle measurement tests were conducted at various Mach numbers in a pulsed combined high-enthalpy wind tunnel. Comparing the simulation results to the wind tunnel results revealed a numerical error of 4.08%, validating the accuracy of the numerical model. Shock angles at Mach numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 20 were analyzed in the numerical simulations, and a nonlinear fitting method was used to determine the functional relationship between the shock angle and Mach number. The results indicate that as the Mach number increases, the shock angle progressively decreases, and its attenuation rate diminishes. The shock angle exhibits an exponentially decreasing relationship with the Mach number, approaching 10.708° as the Mach number approaches infinity. This study provides methodological support and data references for predicting shock wave characteristics and designing aerodynamic hypersonic aircraft. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Propulsion)
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