Normal force calculations for rocket-like configurations

Transonic and supersonic flow simulations over typical launch vehicle configurations are presented. A 3-D finite difference numerical code, written for general, curvilinear, body-conforming coordinate systems, is used. The code solves the thin-layer approximation for the laminar Navier-Stokes equations. Simulations are performed for a launcher and a sounding rocket configurations, currently under development at Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço. Calculations consider cases at angle of attack and at various freestream Mach numbers. Normal force coefficients are obtained such that the loads re...