Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 June 2016
The base pressure correlation proposed earlier by the authors, to take into account the effects of the boundary layer and of the boat-tail angle, is utilised in the design of two-dimensional aft bodies for minimum drag in supersonic flow. The general advantages of boat-tailing are indicated and charts of optimum profile parameters and minimum drag are provided for use in preliminary design. The effects on aft-body drag of possible reversion of the boundary layer at a sudden expansion are discussed, and the relevance of the optimum shapes found to the lifting case is indicated. The calculated optimum geometry is in good agreement with the experimental results of Fuller and Reid.