Hypersonic Aerodynamics and Propulsion

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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• 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