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Abstract:

An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of fineness ratio on the drag of circular-arc boattails at subsonic and low supersonic speeds. The boattails had closure ratios of 0.50 and incorporated convergent nozzles. The investigation was conducted statically and at Mach numbers from 0.40 to 1.30 at 0 deg angle of attack with jet total-pressure ratios varying from jet off to about 6, depending on Mach number. Low-fineness-ratio boattails had large separated-flow regions and the highest drag at all Mach numbers. Subsonic pressure-plus-friction drag levels were generally similar for boattails which did not have large separated regions. Drag-rise Mach number increased as boattail fineness ratio increased.

Author(s):
D.E. Reubush; J.F. Runckel