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Experimental studies were carried out to measure the aerodynamic forces in the presence of the spike attached to the blunt body for the length to diameter ratio of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 and angle of attack up to 8 degree at Mach number 6. Five types of spikes, namely, conical, hemisphere, flat-face, hemisphere-disk and flat face-disk spikes were studied. The effect of conical and hemispherical spikes and flat faced-disk and a hemispherical-disk attached to a blunt nosed basic body has been investigated. The flow field was visualized with schlieren system. The coefficients of drag, lift and pitching moment were measured for different spike configurations using the six-component strain gauge balance. The influence of the spike shock wave generated from the spike which interacts with the reattachment shock was also investigated to understand the cause of drag reduction. Surface pressure distribution over the nose of the basic body was measured for all the cases of with and without spike at = 0 and 5 degree and Mach 6.
About the author
Raman Kalimuthu received B. Tech from Madras Institute of Technology of Anna University, Chennai and obtained M. Tech., and Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Currently he is working in the field of Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre/Indian Space Research Organization.
