REVIEW OF BASE DRAG

Abstract : A review of the present state of knowledge of axisymmetric base drag is given. With application to ballistics in mind, this review is especially concerned with supersonic flight and turbulent boundary layers. Correlations of base pressure are discussed as well as some analytical methods for attacking the problem; no satisfactory analytic theory exists. Experimental methods for determining base pressure in wind tunnels and ballistic ranges are discussed. The effect of a boattail on total drag and base pressure is discussed and one other method for reducing base drag is considered briefly.