Investigation on factors influencing the range of boost-glide-cruise combined trajectories for scramjet-powered vehicles

Jun-xue Leng, Yang Shen, Zhen-guo Wang and Wei Huang

Energy, 2025, vol. 317, issue C

Abstract: With the continuous development of combined propulsion technology, the combined trajectory flight mode has become one of the effective means to extend range. However, research on combined trajectories remains limited, with existing studies primarily focused on single trajectories and the coupled analysis of vehicles and trajectories. To further enhance the range of the boost-glide-cruise combined trajectory, this paper systematically analyzes three aspects: handover states, mass distribution in each flight phase, and the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. Data mining was employed to identify the key factors affecting the range improvement. Based on the identified key factors, range optimization was conducted, and a new combined trajectory design scheme was proposed. Compared with the initial trajectory design, the new scheme increased the total range by 10.6 % under the same forebody takeoff mass conditions. The results of this study are of great significance for optimizing fuel efficiency and enhancing flight range, providing a reference for the decoupling and optimization of vehicles and trajectories in future multi-stage vehicle combined trajectory flights.

Keywords: Boost; Glide; Cruise; Combined trajectory; Scramjet-powered vehicle; Data mining; Optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:317:y:2025:i:c:s036054422500372x

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.134730

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