A Theoretical Study of the Effects of Body Shape and Mach Number on the Drag of Bodies of Revolution in Subcritical Axisymmetric Flow

摘要

Theoretical results of profile drag calculations for bodies of revolution at zero incidence in a uniform flow are presented for a range of body shapes and Mach numbers. At a fixed fineness ratio, nose and tail contours are shown to have little influence on the profile drag coefficient based on body volume to the power 2/3. Comparison with the ESDU data sheets shows good agreement. Results of a low drag study are shown to indicate that in terms of volume enclosed a body with a fineness ratio of about 5.5 is optimum and that a continuously changing radius distribution gives rise to a slightly lower drag than that of a body having a parallel-sided central section. (Author)