Abstract:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to reshape a fast-jet electronics pod’s external geometry to ensure compliance with aircraft pylon load limits
across its carriage envelope while adhering to onboard system constraints and fitment specifications.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Initial geometric layout determination used empirical methods. Performance approximation on the aircraft with
added fairings and stabilising fin configurations was conducted using a panel code. Verification of loads was done using a full steady Reynoldsaveraged Navier–Stokes solver, validated against published wind tunnel test data. Acceptable load envelope for the aircraft pylon was defined using
two already-certified stores with known flight envelopes.
FINDINGS: Re-lofting the pod’s geometry enabled meeting all geometric and pylon load constraints. However, due to the pod’s large size, re-lofting
alone was not adequate to respect aircraft/pylon load limitations. A flight restriction was imposed on the aircraft’s roll rate to reduce yaw and roll
moments within allowable limits.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The geometry of an electronics pod was redesigned to maximise the permissible flight envelope on its carriage aircraft
while respecting the safe carriage load limits determined for its store pylon. Aircraft carriage load constraints must be determined upfront when
considering the design of fast-jet electronic pods.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: A process for determining the unknown load constraints of a carriage aircraft by analogy is presented, along with the process of
tailoring the geometry of an electronics pod to respect aerodynamic load and geometric constraints.
