Can Metamaterials Be Used to Reduce Shockwaves in Supersonic Flight?

[JasonGodbout]

Could we use something like carpet cloaking to reduce shockwave in supersonic or mach wave in transonic flight?

Student in mechanical engineering

 

[CWatters]

Just curious... What is "Carpet cloaking" in this context?

 

[DrDu]

Just curious... What is "Carpet cloaking" in this context?

Using mechanical engineering students as a carpet to shield from shock waves :-)
At least that would stop them from designing highly CO2 emitting devices.

More seriously: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamaterial_cloaking
I suppose you can construct similar acoustical devices. However, I would guess that speed of sound has to be higher in them than the speed of the aircraft.

 

[JasonGodbout]

Lets start with that:
http://people.ee.duke.edu/~cummer/reprints/131_Popa11_PRL_AcousticCloak.pdf

$\rho$ = det(A)*(A^-1)^T*A^-1*$\rho$₀
B = det(A)*B₀

where

B: bulk modulus
$\rho$: Density
A: Jacobian matrix

Lets make it simple:
cartesian to polar 2D
Jacobian =
cosθ -r*sinθ
sinθ r*cosθ

How to make a hole in the middle?

 

[PJC01]

I can say that there is ongoing research and development in the field of metamaterials for use in supersonic and transonic flight. Metamaterials are engineered materials with unique properties that can manipulate electromagnetic, acoustic, and mechanical waves in ways that traditional materials cannot.

One potential application of metamaterials in supersonic flight is the use of carpet cloaking to reduce shockwave effects. Carpet cloaking is a technique that involves covering an object with a specially designed metamaterial that can bend and redirect incoming waves, making the object appear invisible to certain frequencies. In the context of supersonic flight, this could potentially reduce the strength of shockwaves and minimize their impact on the aircraft.

However, there are still many challenges to overcome before this technology can be implemented in practical applications. Metamaterials are complex and expensive to produce, and their effectiveness can be limited by factors such as temperature and pressure changes at high speeds. Additionally, the design and implementation of carpet cloaking for use in supersonic flight would require detailed knowledge of the aircraft's geometry and the characteristics of the incoming shockwaves.

Overall, while the concept of using metamaterials for reducing shockwave effects in supersonic flight is promising, further research and development is needed to fully understand and harness their potential. But with continued advancements and breakthroughs in the field of metamaterials, we may one day see this technology being used in the aerospace industry to enhance the performance and safety of supersonic and transonic flight.