A SIMPLIFIED MODEL OF THE LAMINAR WAKE OF A HYPERSONIC BODY FOR STUDYING ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS
Abstract
The simplified model discussed in this paper is applicable to that portion of the re-entry trajectory where the flow may be considered to be inviscid and laminar. This corresponds roughly to a range of altitudes from 180,000 to 250,000 ft. The viscous effects become important above 250,000 ft and the flow is likely to be turbulent below 180,000 ft. In this range of altitudes the model gives results which agree with the numerical results of Feldman. In computing the electromagnetic characteristics of the wake, the air was assumed to be in equilibrium with the local conditions. This assumption is not valid for altitudes much higher than 100,000 ft. Assuming local equilibrium at altitudes above 100,000 ft will provide a lower limit for the actual electron density. At altitudes above 200,000 ft we may assume the flow to be ''frozen,'' and thus compute the electromagnetic characteristics from the stagnation conditions. For the intermediate or transitional altitudes the two limiting cases will serve as upper and lower bounds for the solution.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0406879
Entities
People
- R. D. Engel
Organizations
- RAND Corporation