ON MEASURING THE COEFFICIENT OF DRAG OF AN ACCELEROMETER-INSTRUMENTED SPHERE IN A SHOCK TUBE

Abstract

The feasibility of measuring the aerodynamic coefficient of drag (C sub D) of a sphere in a shock tube by means of an accelerometer was studied. The method involved mounting an accelerometer within the sphere and measuring its response to a known flow. The range of Mach and Reynolds numbers covered in the tests was limited by the physical parameters of the shock tube used. Based on attenuation and model blockage effects, the tests were limited to a Mach number range of 1.4 to 1.6 and a Reynolds number range of 49,000 to 150,000. A 1.1 in. dia. aluminum sphere was suspended in the test section and 5 shots were made with a constant pressure-ratio across the diaphragm. The values of C sub D reduced from these shots were compared to those found by another experimenter using a ballistics range facility. The agreement, based on Mach and Reynolds numbers, was in most cases of the order of 1 to 4%. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0286503

Entities

People

  • M. Riess

Organizations

  • Naval Ordnance Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accelerometers
  • Agreements
  • Aluminum
  • Attenuation
  • Ballistics
  • Coefficients
  • Mach Number
  • Reynolds Number
  • Shock Tubes
  • Skeletal Muscle
  • Tubes

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.