Bi-directional Flying Wing with Orthogonal Coupling of Waverider and Flying Wing for Full-Speed Domain Applications: Aerodynamic Configuration Design and Performance

Through morphological analysis of waverider configurations and wide-speed-range airfoils, a novel bi-directional flying wing concept was proposed, namely an orthogonal coupling of waverider and flying wing, which demonstrates compatible aerodynamic performance across full speed domain. The bi-directional flying wing achieves flying wing mode flight at sub/trans/supersonic speeds along the high-aspect-ratio direction, while realizing wave-riding mode at super/hypersonic speeds along the low-aspect-ratio direction. For coupling the flying wing and waverider configuration, a simulated annealing optimization was applied on airfoil constructions under waverider premise. Utilizing this wide-speed-range airfoil as the waverider’s trailing edge surface, the waverider forebody shall be constructed through inverse flow tracking. CFD validation confirms that the developed vehicle exhibits favorable characteristics across the entire speed domain. To enhance the implementability of this novel concept and address the modal transition requirements between flying wing and wave-riding mode, three distinctive trajectories were proposed: (1) A “folded boost-glide trajectory”; (2) The derived “cat-ear” shaped trajectory; (3) The “leaf-vein” trajectory cluster. For maneuverability enhancement, a dual-wing rudder configuration inspired by supersonic favorable interference principles was discussed. These innovations provide potential solutions for integrated aerospace reconnaissance, defense, strike systems, and scientific research platforms.