The Aeroprediction Code is a semi-empirical computer program that estimates the aerodynamics of weapons over the Mach number range 0 to 20, angle of attack range 0 to 90 degrees, and for configurations that have various cross sectional body shapes. Weapons considered include projectiles, missiles, bombs, rockets and mortars. Both static and dynamic aerodynamics are predicted with good accuracy. The code also predicts the trajectory of the weapon using the aerodynamics predicted by the code.
The code may be used to compute the center of pressure and static margin of missiles.
The Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act provides insights into how to use aerodynamic prediction codes such as Aeroprediction in the design of missile for US acquisition.
See also
Missile Datcom
References
1. "Body Alone Aerodynamics of Guided and Unguided Projectiles at Subsonic, Transonic, and Supersonic Mach Numbers", NWL TR-3796, Nov 1972.
2. "Aerodynamic Drag and Lift of General Body Shapes at Subsonic, Transonic, and Supersonic Mach Numbers", AGARD CP-124, AGARD Conference on Aerodynamic Drag, Izmir, Turkey, April 1973.
3. "Aerodynamics of Guided and Unguided Weapons: Part I Theory and Application", NWL TR-3018, Dec 1973 (written with W. McKerley) .
4. "Aerodynamics of Guided and Unguided Weapons: Part II Computer Program and Usage", NWL TR-3036, Jan 1974 (written with W. McKerley) .
5/6 "Static Aerodynamics of Missile Configurations for Mach Number Zero to Three", AIAA Paper No.74-538, Jun 1974 and Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 12, No.10, Oct 1975.
7. "Static and Dynamic Aeroballistics of Projectiles and Missiles", Paper No.9 Presented at the 10th Navy Symposium on Aeroballistics, NSWCDL, Jul 1975 (written with C. Swanson).
8. "The Effect of Boattail Shape on Magnus ", NSWCDL TR-3581, Dec 1976 (co-authored with G. Graff) . 9. "Empirical Method for Predicting the Magnus Characteristics of Spinning Shells ", AIAA Journal, Vol. 15 No.10, Oct 1977, (written with G. Graff) .
10. "Aerodynamics of Tactical Weapons to Mach Number 3 and Angle of Attack 15 Degrees: Part I - Theory and Application", NSWCDL TR-3584, Feb 1977 (written with C. Swanson) .
11. "Aerodynamics of Tactical Weapons to Mach Number 3 and Angle of Attack 15 Degrees: Part II - Computer Program and Usage", NSWCDL TR-3600, Mar 1977 (written with C. Swanson) .
12. "Optimal Projectile Shapes for Minimum Total Drag", NSWCDL TR-3597, May 1977 (written with Hager and F. DeJarnette) .
13. "Dynamic Derivatives for Missile Configurations to Mach Number Three", Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 15, No.4, 1978 (written with C. Swanson) .
14/15. "Aerodynamic Prediction Code for Tactical Weapons", Paper presented at 11th Navy Aeroballistics Symposium, Warminster, PA, 1978 and presented at 17th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, New Orleans, 1979 (written with L. Devan and J. Sun) .
16. "Aerodynamics Design Manual for Tactical Weapons", NSWC TR 81–156, July 1981 (written with L. Mason, L. Devan and D. McMillan).
17. "Aerodynamics of Tactical Weapons to Mach Number 8 and Angle of Attack of 180 degrees", Paper No.82-0250, presented at AIAA 20th Aerospace Sciences meeting in Orlando, FL, Jan 1982 (written with L. Devan and L. Mason).
18. "Second-Order Shock Expansion Theory Extended to Include Real Gas Effects", NAVSWC TR 90-683, Feb 1992 (written with M. Armistead, S. Rowles and F. DeJarnette) .
19/20. "A New Approximate Method for Calculating Real Gas Effects on Missile Configurations", AIAA Paper No. 92-4637, Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference, Aug 1992 (written with Armistead, Rowles, DeJarnette) . Also Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 30, No.1, Jan-Feb 1993.
21. "New Methods for Predicting Nonlinear Lift, Center of Pressure, and Pitching Moment on Missile Configurations", NSWCDD/TR-92/217, Jul1992 (written with T. Hymer and L. Devan) .
22. "A New Semiempirical Method for Computing Nonlinear Angle-of- Attack Aerodynamics on Wing-Body-Tail Configurations", AIAA Paper No.93-0034 presented at 31st Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Jan 1993 (written with L. Devan and T. Hymer) .
23. "Incorporation of Boundary Layer Heating Predictive Methodology into the NAVSWC Aeroprediction Code", NSWCDD TR-93/29, Apr 1993 (written with R. McInville) .
24. "Improved Empirical Model for Base Drag Prediction on Missile Configurations Based on New Wind Tunnel Data", NSWCDD TR-92-509, Oct 1992, (written with F. Wilcox of NASA/LRC and T. Hymer of NSWC) .