"CST" parametric geometry representations for waveriders

The primary objective of this work is to carry out the 3D parametric geometry representations of waveriders, and to optimize a waverider-based configuration for performance. Because of the high L/D values of waveriders, they are particularly suitable for use as forebodes of flight vehicle, and especially for a near space hypersonic flight vehicle. This paper has designed a conical waverider forebody, and advanced the steps to generate waverider configuration. In order to limit the number of the geometric design variables, this paper used a parametric geometry representation method-"CST" (shape function / class function), which was presented by Brenda M. Kulfan in 2006. With this very robust, versatile and simple method, a 3D geometry is defined in a design space by the distribution of class functions and the shape functions. Engineering methods based on inviscid flow theory are commonly used to calculate aerodynamics in this paper, but skin friction and base drag has also been considered. At last, this paper gives maximum L/D optimization and maximum volume optimization. Some examples show that this method can generate waveriders quickly by the three-dimensional shape, and it is the foundation in Multidisciplinary Design Optimization.