The US Naval Research Laboratory has begun a groundbreaking project to develop a new hypersonic engine that can change its shape during flight to optimize power, thrust and efficiency. It is currently undergoing experimental testing.

Hypersonic aircraft and missiles capable of traveling at speeds greater than the speed of sound are at the center of a new international arms race; Countries are scrambling to develop and test weapons and aircraft that can outrun almost any conventional munition.

But the aerodynamics at these speeds are absolutely insane and this has led to some very interesting projects; most notably the NRL initiative in 2019, which aims to change the entire shape of an aircraft in flight as a way to create smooth, seamless control surfaces. replace hinged fins and wings.

A team at the University of Central Florida is applying a similar concept to the inside of the scramjet. The new project will investigate what is possible when transition surfaces are used to direct airflow in the supersonic combustion environment of a scramjet. The team has already developed an aerothermodynamic model of the engine and “they are currently in the experimental testing phase.”

“Most hypersonic engines are structurally rigid due to harsh flight conditions. “The study will demonstrate performance gains from an adapted engine configuration that will independently optimize their surfaces to maximize power, thrust and travel, the first of its kind for hypersonic engines,” says the project’s principal investigator. Source