A Theoretical Study of Body Drag in Subcritical Axisymmetric Flow

Summary A method of predicting body drag in subcritical axisymmetric flow is outlined which requires only detailed body shape, free-stream conditions and transition point to be prescribed. Results of calculations for a range of body shapes are shown essentially to confirm information in Royal Aeronautical Society Data Sheets but clearly demonstrate that fineness ratio alone is not sufficient to characterise body shape. For example, at a fixed fineness ratio of 0.18, detailed changes in body contour are shown to produce 10 per cent changes in drag coefficient.