Variational Approach to the Re-Entry of a Ballistic Missile. Part I,
Abstract
The re-entry of a ballistic missile endowed with a device regulating the drag (either spoilers or dive brakes) is investigated with the idea of minimizing the heat transferred from the boundary layer to the skin. It is assumed that the vehicle incorporates either heat sinks or ablation cooling and that the heat radiated away is small when compared with the heat absorbed. By the use of the indirect methods of the calculus of variations it is shown that the totality of extremal arcs includes sub-arcs of three different kinds: (a) sub-arcs flown with spoilers fully retracted; (b) sub-arcs flown with spoilers fully extended; and (c) sub-arcs flown with spoilers in a continuously variable position. Along the latter sub-arcs, the angle of opening of the spoilers must be such that a constant time rate of heat transfer is generated from the boundary layer to the body. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1959
- Accession Number
- AD0875211
Entities
People
- Angelo Miele
- Carlos R. Cavoti
Organizations
- Purdue University