Wind Tunnel Measurement of Airborne Towed Cable Drag Coefficients
Abstract
Four tow cables used in the AMRL Long Line Loiter program were tested to determine their drag characteristics. Each cable was tested in angle of attack range alpha = 15 degrees - 90 degrees and Reynolds number range Rn = 12, 000-54,000. Tests were performed in the AFIT five-foot subsonic wind tunnel. The cables were of two types: (1) two circular, hollow-woven polypropylene lines, for which Cd vs. Rn was generally concave up for high alpha and nearly linear for the low alpha. Maximum Cd at alpha = 90 degrees was near 1.2; the critical Rn was approximately 35,000. (2) two flat (t/c = 1/2) hollow-woven nylon lines for which Cd vs. Rn was concave down for high alpha and nearly linear for low alpha. Maximum Cd at alpha = 90 degrees was near 1.0; no critical Reynolds number was reached during flat cable testing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0754889
Entities
People
- Burdette J. Barnes Jr.
- John L. Pothier
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology