On the minimum drag of a supersonic flying vehicle with a conical stabilizer

The flow characteristics of a flying vehicle with a conical stabilizing device are analyzed. Qualitative features of the supersonic flow associated with the characteristics of the drag of an aerodynamic configuration with a stabilizing device in the form of a truncated cone are considered. Simulation results are compared with experimental data. Particular attention is paid to the physical aspects of the flow around the considered configurations and to elucidating the mechanisms responsible for a minimum in the drag coefficient of a wingless flying vehicle. A general mechanism of occurrence of the minimum in the drag coefficient for aerodynamic configurations with a conical stabilizer is studied.