Computer programs for aerodynamics don't solve analytically but with numeric approximations. Question is how do you know the simplification you made won't critically affect a particular setup you are investigating? Cheaper to simulate yes but always have wind tunnel models for final design confirmation, otherwise something goes wrong during actual test and you won't even know where the problem occurred.
Chinese Hypersonic Developments (HGVs/HCMs)
- Thread starter A.Man
- Start date
You do both. Also, a simulation software is based on models. Their accuracy need to be verified using wind tunnels. A lot of information is not well known or well published and must be obtained through experimentation.
One feeds into the other.
TLDR; it's a bit of a chicken and egg problem.
As a scientist, I would imagine you need data collected from the hypersonic wind tunnel tests in order to refine the models for accurate simulations. Given the models for simulating hypersonic aircraft, engines, and weapons are likely not very mature yet (except perhaps within China), it would be stupid not to build some hypersonic wind tunnels. Even in China, they can take up to 5 years to build, so it's the type of project for which you need to plan well in advance of doing the actual R&D work. Data collected from tests in a natural environment can be much less reliable for the purposes of creating an accurate model, due to not being a controlled environment. In other words, running simulations on a supercomputer alone can be very inadequate if you're already on the cutting edge of human knowledge and trying to reach further. You need a good "lab" in which to run real world experiments and collect the data precisely so that you can improve the models you use in supercomputer simulations.
As a scientist, I would imagine you need data collected from the hypersonic wind tunnel tests in order to refine the models for accurate simulations. Given the models for simulating hypersonic aircraft, engines, and weapons are likely not very mature yet (except perhaps within China), it would be stupid not to build some hypersonic wind tunnels. Even in China, they can take up to 5 years to build, so it's the type of project for which you need to plan well in advance of doing the actual R&D work. Data collected from tests in a natural environment can be much less reliable for the purposes of creating an accurate model, due to not being a controlled environment. In other words, running simulations on a supercomputer alone can be very inadequate if you're already on the cutting edge of human knowledge and trying to reach further. You need a good "lab" in which to run real world experiments and collect the data precisely so that you can improve the models you use in supercomputer simulations.
Last edited:
One of the DF-17 that flew over wanwan iun August had a newly developed hypersonic 80,000 fps camera, the alleged photo from the DF-17...
Nope. Satellite image. If image from DF-17 got leaked I'd be very concerned.
Potentially 1 hour to
I can certainly see military application for this, even though CNSA will try to play it down.