CFD in support of wind tunnel testing for aircraft/weapons integration

Integrating data and computations using AEDC semiempirical and CFD techniques has provided vital support for integrating weapons with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS). The techniques and the processes used are described. Computational results were obtained using HPC assets, and when possible, the results were validated against wind tunnel data. The success of these validations has led to high confidence in the computational results and also to the use of computational results to provide data outside the tunnel operating envelope. This has led in turn to the elimination of tests and saved the two programs millions of dollars. In summary, the subject computations: 1) provided information for pretest planning; 2) corrected errors in wind tunnel data reduction and results; and 3) obtained results for configurations that could not be obtained in the wind tunnel because of physical limitations of the support systems as well as limitations of the tunnel operating envelope. Computations and analysis performed for the two programs have demonstrated that the integrated test and evaluation process does reduce cost and risk.