Breathing blunt-nose concept for drag reduction in supersonic flow

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part G, Journal of aerospace engineering Vol. 223; no. 1; pp. 31 - 38
• Main Authors: Vashishtha, A, Rathakrishnan, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.02.2009; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Aerodynamics; Breathing; Drag reduction; Low pressure; Mach number; Nose; Passive control; Pressure distribution; Pressure drag; Pressure measurement; Supersonic flow; Velocity; breathing blunt nose (BBN); drag reduction; spring balance; supersonic flow
• ISSN: 0954-4100; 2041-3025
• DOI: 10.1243/09544100JAERO369

Abstract This paper presents the results and the physics behind the process which results in the reduction of pressure drag of blunt-nosed body by passive control in form of breathing nose at a supersonic Mach number. The drag of a blunt-nosed body with and without breathing nose at Mach 1.96 is compared. The breathing nose is found to reduce the drag on the body by manipulating the high pressure at the nose and the low pressure at the base simultaneously. The shock at the nose of the body becomes weaker when the hole at the nose is open. Direct measurement of drag and the pressure at the nose and at the surface downstream of the nose has been carried out. Flow field around the body with and without breathing nose has been visualized with shadowgraph. A maximum drag reduction of 21 per cent was obtained at NPR 2. This is because of the combined effect of the decrease of high pressure at the nose and increase of low pressure at the base, due to the breathing through the nose hole.