Publication Date:
2019-08-16
Description:
The subject of this paper is the drag of the nose section of bodies of revolution at zero angle of attack. The magnitude of the nose drag in relation to the total drag is very distinctly a function of the body design and the Mach number. It can range from a very small fraction of the total drag of the order of 10 percent to a very large fraction as high as 80 percent. The natural objective of nose design is to minimize the drag, but this objective is not always the primary one. Sometimes other factors overshadow the desire for minimum drag. The most conspicuous example of this is the proposal of guidance engineers that large-diameter spheres and other very blunt shapes be used at the nose tip. This paper will attempt to discuss both phases of the problem, noses for minimum drag and noses with very blunt tips. The state of the theory will also be reviewed and recent theoretical developments described, since the theory still remains a very valuable tool for assaying the effects of compromises in design and departure from shapes for which experimental data are available.
Keywords:
Aerodynamics
Type:
Aerodynamic Characteristics of Bodies at Supersonic Speeds: A Collection of Three Papers; 1-12; NACA-RM-A51J25|NACA Conference on Aerodynamic Design Problems of Supersonic Guided Missiles; Oct 02, 1951 - Oct 03, 1951; Moffett Field, CA; United States
Format:
application/pdf
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