An Experimental Investigation of the Wake of an Axisymmetric Body with a Slanted Base

Abstract

SummaryThe effect of base slant on the base pressure distribution, drag coefficient and vortex shedding characteristics of a model consisting of an axisymmetric main body with an ellipsoidal nose have been investigated for three fineness ratios; 3, 6 and 9. A sudden change in the drag coefficient and separated flow pattern is observed at a critical slant angle (for constant incidence) or at a critical angle of incidence (for a constant base slant angle). The tests confirm that the value of the maximum drag coefficient is extremely sensitive to angle of incidence. Measurements of the frequency of vortex shedding are presented and the structure of the wake is investigated using smoke visualization and hot-wire correlation measurements. The wake is found to be far less stable than that from a two-dimensional bluff body and the vortex structures are sometimes in-phase and sometimes out of phase across the wake. The effect of free-stream turbulence on this family of body shapes is observed to be different to that on three-dimensional blunt-faced bluff bodies. Free-stream turbulence is found to have a minimal effect on base pressure for slant angles giving a recirculating type near wake flow. When longitudinal vortices are present the addition of free-stream turbulence slightly reduces the magnitude of the peak suctions recorded on the base but has little effect on base drag.