INVERSE METHOD APPLIED TO A BODY OF REVOLUTION WITH AN EXTENDED FAVOURABLE PRESSURE GRADIENT FOREBODY

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to continue to demonstrate the use of the inverse-problem approach in the design of low-drag bodies of revolution. The approach used in body design is to develop a body which can carry a given payload. The intent of this study is to apply the inverse method to the body studied by R. J. Hansen and J. G. Hoyt and to investigate the possibility of further improvement. In order to accomplish this, the tail boom on the experimental model was eliminated on the computational model. The computational tail was allowed to approach a point. The potential flow method is combined with a laminar and turbulent boundary-layer calculation in order to get the trailing-edge momentum-thickness value for use in Young's method. L. F. Crabtree's transition criterion is used to determine the location of the transition point.