Flowfield around ogive/elliptic-tip cylinder at high angle of attack

Abstract

We present the results of experimental investigations on the flowfield around a conventional sharp-nose ogive cylinder and an elliptic-tip ogive cylinder. The studies include simultaneous side-force and surface pressure measurements in a wind tunnel as well as flow visualization in a water tunnel. The results show that changes in the direction of the side force are related to changes in the asymmetry of the pressure distribution along the body. Of the two tip shapes investigated, it is found that the variation of the side force with the roll angle for the elliptic tip is more predictable than that for the sharp ogive tip. Although the flow visualization study shows that the elliptic-tip cylinder with the major axis transverse to the freestream is more effective in delaying the onset of flow asymmetry to a higher angle of attack, the maximum side forces for the two tip geometries are almost the same.