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 782

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 (1 paper)

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Research

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
Viewed by 444
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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