Hypersonics research and development led by UTA and Ansys
NewsSeptember 22, 2020
ARLINGTON, Texas. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and Ansys are developing an advanced design and analysis workflow for validating system models in the U.S. government's current and next-generation hypersonic vehicles. The workflow is intended to fast-track certification of simulation software codes, help decrease hypersonic technology development spending, and increase engineering productivity.
The U.S. Department of Defense and NASA have prioritized the development of high-speed hypersonic aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. Offcials, however, believe that funding and a shortage of engineers with hypersonic vehicle design experience have slowed the advancement of hypersonic flight, and Ansys' simulation solutions are intended to aid in the development of key hypersonic technologies ranging from thermal protection systems for spacecraft reentry to scramjet combustion technology for hypersonic travel.
Company officials claim that Ansys' high-fidelity physics-based solvers spur hypersonics experimental research. By simulating these systems, engineering teams hope to save money in physical prototype testing and further research and development using fewer employees.
After running Ansys' hypersonic systems models, UTA engineers will intend to verify the software code's accuracy by conducting physical high-speed flight tests in UTA's state-of-the-art arc jet hypersonic wind tunnel — the only structure of its kind created by a U.S. university, according to UTA.
