Aerodynamic Analysis of a High-Speed Aircraft: From Hypersonic Down to Subsonic Speeds

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays, market globalization and scientific and commercial exploitation of space strongly demand reliable, efficient, and affordable high-speed transportation systems. Even though significant progress have been made in this field, flying at high supersonic or hypersonic speeds remains a major challenge in aerospace engineering. To achieve this goal, several complex design issues must be addressed, including vehicle aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics, aeroshape design optimization, aerodynamic heating, boundary layer transition, subsonic performance, and more. Moreover, the scientific community holds diverse perspectives on the feasibility and implications of operating aircraft at high speeds—namely, in the supersonic and hypersonic regimes.

In this framework, the aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for researchers and engineers to present valuable work focused on high-speed aircraft, with particular emphasis on aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic vehicle designs. For instance, the extreme loading environments associated with high-speed flows require the development of advanced aeroshapes capable of withstanding intense heat transfer and mechanical stresses, while still generating the aerodynamic forces necessary to sustain flight.

Therefore, this Special Issue seeks to explore the range of disciplines and design objectives that are currently the focus of research programs industrial efforts around the world. It welcomes contributions related to the aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic design of high-speed aircraft (e.g., supersonic and hypersonic), particularly in the following areas:

• Aeroshape design;
• Computational fluid dynamics;
• Hypersonics;
• Conjugate heat transfer problem;
• Thermo-chemical non-equilibrium;
• Radiative heat transfer;
• Catalyticity;
• Aeroshape optimization;
• Capsule;
• Sample return missions;
• Fluid structure interaction;
• Heat transfer;
• Shock wave boundary layer interaction (SWBLI);
• Shock-shock interaction (SSI);
• Boundary layer transition;
• Flow transition prediction;
• Wind tunnel test;
• Numerical rebuilding of experimental test campaign;
• Vehicle aerodynamics;
• Vehicle aerothermodynamics;
• Aerodynamic database modeling;
• Aerothermodynamic database modeling;
• Multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO);
• High speed flows;
• Subsonic flows at landing conditions;
• Sonic boom;
• Scramjet propulsion;
• In-flight experimentation;
• Extrapolation to flight;
• Viscous interaction;
• Lifting body;
• Winged body;
• Waverider.

As such, this Issue delves into aeroshape design of advanced configurations that aim to make high-speed vehicles faster, quieter, and more economical than ever before. Furthermore, it will address current challenges in high-speed flow and explore the broader vision required to realize the longstanding dream of affordable, efficient high-speed air travel. Achieving these goals will bring the prospect of high-speed air transportation closer to reality.

We warmly welcome contributions from researchers and engineers across academia and industry that advance the understanding and development of high-speed aircraft aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics. Your innovative research, reviews, and perspectives will be invaluable to this rapidly evolving field.

Dr. Giuseppe Pezzella
Dr. Andrea Aprovitola
Guest Editors

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• high-speed flow
• supersonic flow
• hypersonic flow
• aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics
• scramjet propulsion
• computational fluid dynamics
• MDO