Analytical solutions to three-dimensional hypersonic gliding trajectory over rotating Earth. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Wanqing; Chen, Wanchun; Yu, Wenbin
• Is Part Of: Acta astronautica. Volume 179(2021)
• Page Start: 702
• Page End: 716
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Hypersonic glide vehicle -- Analytical entry-trajectory solutions -- Regular perturbation method -- Guidance and control; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Outer space -- Exploration -- Periodicals; Astronautics; Periodicals; 629.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.11.031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-5765

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, high-precision analytical solutions are developed for 3-dimensional (3-D) hypersonic gliding trajectory over the rotating and spherical Earth using the regular perturbation method. First, an Auxiliary Geocentric Rotating (AGR) frame fixed on the rotating Earth is created based on a generalized equator, which is defined as the great circle in the plane containing the initial position and velocity vectors of the hypersonic vehicle, and then a new entry dynamics model is established based on the generalized longitude and latitude. As the rotational angular velocity of Earth is no longer just along the z -axis of the AGR frame, the new model becomes much more complex than the conventional one. However, the benefit of this model is that the AGR frame caters to the trajectory characteristic that the downrange is much greater than the crossrange. Thus the model is conducive to being linearized. By simplifying the model skillfully, a reduced-order system is obtained with energy as independent variable and capable of predicting the downrange, crossrange and heading angle of 3-D trajectory. However, in this system, the crossrange and heading angle are still coupled seriously. To cope with this, the system is decomposed into a Taylor series by the regular perturbation method and approximated by truncating the series after the first two terms. The remaining two terms are linear time-varying (LTV) sub-systems and can be solved by the spectral-decomposition-based method. In the derivation process, we find and prove that some complex formulae related to Earth's rotation keep almost constant since the glider flies near the generalized equator. The simulation results demonstrate that the new analytical solutions have high accuracy and require a small amount of calculation. Highlights: A new entry flight dynamics model is deduced based on the generalized equator. The nonlinear dynamics is solved analytically by the regular perturbation method. Some complex inertial terms are proved to remain constant approximately. The analytical solutions are 3-dimensional and of high accuracy.