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

Abstract : 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.