Free-Fall Rotation and Aerodynamic Motion of Rectangular Plates

Abstract

The aerodynamic motion of rectangular plates observed in 18 free fall drop tests is analyzed and described. In most of the drops, the plates autorotated; the autorotation was independent of the plates' initial attitude. The autorotation generated a small lifting force which caused the plates to experience a gliding and spiraling motion.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1968
Accession Number
ADA395124

Entities

People

  • A. C. Bustamante

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Cameras
  • Dispersions
  • Drop Tests
  • Energy
  • Flight
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Free Flight
  • Helicopters
  • Jet Propulsion
  • New Mexico
  • Space Systems
  • Steady State
  • Trajectories
  • United States
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Structural Dynamics.