AEROMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF A NOVEL MORTAR-GUIDED MUNITION WITH WING CONTROL AND ENHANCED GLIDING CAPABILITY

Abstract

This paper presents the aerodynamic design, analysis, and aeromechanical characteristics of a novel mortar-guided munition with a single set of cruciform wings, which provide both gliding and steering capabilities. This streamlined design, using a single set of aerodynamic surfaces, simplifies the guidance and control system by delivering lift and control forces without the complexity of multiple lifting surfaces traditionally required for independent gliding and steering. The wing control scheme enables pitch, yaw, and roll control at relatively low angles of attack, with an almost linear aerodynamic response throughout the flight. Engineering aerodynamic methods, potential flow method, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were employed to design and analyze the configuration across both the ballistic and gliding-guided phases. Comprehensive results are presented, detailing the full set of aerodynamic coefficients needed for aeromechanical analysis and simulation. A preliminary aeromechanical analysis was conducted to determine the performance of the munition in terms of the operational ranges, control scheme, and trajectory attributes.