Abstract: As an important dynamic problem, multibody separation dynamics often exists in the separation system of multibody vehicles in aerospace and weapon fields. Different from multibody system dynamics generally studying the motion law of multiple flexible and rigid bodies connected with each other, multibody separation dynamics is a highly integrated point of aerodynamics and flight dynamics. After unlocking and separation, the multibody vehicles no longer restrain or contact with each other, leading to air medium interaction between the multibody vehicles. The multibody separation process involves both aerodynamic interference (multibody aerodynamics) and relative motion between multiple bodies. This paper summarizes the key scientific problems and related technical difficulties of multibody separation dynamics according to the research requirements of multibody aircraft in the fields of aerospace and weapon systems. Firstly, the problems and main characteristics of several typical multibody vehicles (such as aircraft stores, multistage vehicles, aircraft with fairing, and multimissile vehicles) are presented, followed by a summary of the theoretical and experimental prediction methods of multibody separation dynamics. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of different research methods are analyzed. Finally, some views and future prospects are proposed.

Key words: multibody vehicles, multibody aerodynamics, multibody separation dynamics, grid survey method, six degrees of freedom equation of motion