SOME ASPECTS OF SHOCK-WAVE GENERATION BY SUPERSONIC AIRPLANES

Abstract

Various theoretical, wind-tunnel, and flight investigations conducted in regard to the flow fields generated by an airplane at super(over) sonic speed indicated that appreciable pressure disturbances can be imposed on the ground as a result of the shock waves extending to ground level. The pressure rise through the bow wave of an airplane in the far field is dependent on the over-all area development rather than on local details and can be estimated with some degree of confidence. Configuration details influence the flow field in the near field in that they determine the number, strength, and location of shocks. One of the simplest and most effective means of reducing the shock-wave intensity at ground level is to maintain adequate altitude in order to attenuate the shock-wave pressures to acceptable levels. Flying through the supersonic flow field of an airplane in a close-vicinity passing maneuver can result in appreciable airplane motion and load. Passing a subsonic airplane, or any case in which fast passing rates are involved, results in negligible airplane motion. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1959
Accession Number
AD0248344

Entities

People

  • G.h. Jordan

Organizations

  • AGARD

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airplanes
  • Far Field
  • Flow
  • Flow Fields
  • Ground Level
  • Near Field
  • Shock
  • Shock Waves
  • Supersonic Aircraft
  • Supersonic Flow
  • Waves
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow