In a message dated 8/12/02 5:30:50 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I'm not sure how you would figure out the stability of a vehicle with a shock wave at the end of a pointed stick. >The same way you figure it out without one - the front edge of any Mach1+ structure will produce shock waves. It seems that every edge will make shock waves, including aft edges (this is one of the main design issues with an aerospike engine). The angle of the shock cone would vary with speed (I think), more acute included angle at higher speeds? >Yes, which is probably why a big blunt hypersonic nose cone has a lot of drag. The cone shaped shockwave is always impinging on the structure. In actual flight, I'm guessing that the shock wave is forced to conform to the blunt front edge shape, which causes the high drag. What would happen if the shock cone hit the body due to a sharp yaw? >Any sharp yaw at those speeds would instantly destroy the vehicle What keeps it from weather cocking? >Request no wind during flight Would any aerodynamic surfaces in the shadow of the shock cone still be effective? Like fins. >> >I think so, but this is outside my knowledge. Common sense says yes, since the Mach1 main shock is 45 degrees off the nose tip, and the fins are always within that cone. Do we know what to expect if the fins are *outside* the main shock? >Dan _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
