SPATIAL SUPERSONIC MOTION OF A BODY THROUGH A LARGE-SCALE INHOMOGENEITY IN A STRATIFIED ATMOSPHERE

The free spatial motion of a blunted body of revolution through a larg e cloud of heated gas (a thermal) floating in a stratified atmosphere is investigated. Extended composite bodies of the sphere-cone type are considered, the free supersonic motion of which is usually associated with small angles of attack. To determine the trajectory of the body and its orientation in space, a highly effective numerical method is p roposed which is an extension of the spatial case of a previously desc ribed method [I] for the two-dimensional formulation and which is base d on the simultaneous solution of the problems of the flow around a bo dy and its motion. Using this method the effect of a floating thermal on the trajectory and orientation of the body in space and the stabili ty of the flight is investigated in the three-dimensional formulation. The change in the trajectory of the body and its orientation in space as a function of the position of the centre of mass is considered. It is shown that the presence of a thermal may lead to a considerable ch ange in the trajectory of the body and to a loss in flight stability. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.