Effects of pressure distributions on bluff tension-shell shapes

Includes bibliographical references (p. 17).

An investigation was conducted to improve the accuracy in calculating pressure distributions for various tension-shell decelerator shapes and to evaluate the effects on derived shapes resulting from the application of different pressure distributions. Pressure distributions given by Newtonian and integral-relation theory were each used to derive tension-shell shapes. Experimental pressure distributions were obtained from two windtunnel models - one model shape was derived by using a Newtonian pressure distribution and the other shape was derived by using an integral-relation pressure distribution for a Mach number of 3.0 - and were compared with theoretical pressure distributions. The tests were conducted at a Mach number of 3.0, at zero angle of attack, and at a Reynolds number of 10.4 X 106 based on maximum model diameter. Tension-shell shapes were also derived by using the experimental pressure distributions and were compared with both the Newtonianderived shape and the integral-relation-derived shape for a Mach number of 3.0.