THOUGHTS ON CONICAL FLOW ASYMMETRY

A thorough analysis of experimental results obtained on slender bodies of revolution at high angles of attack has revealed that conical flow asymmetry does indeed exist, but only for very slender cones, where t he asymmetric flow separation starts developing well below an angle of attack of 30 deg. When the asymmetry starts at 30-deg or higher angle s of attack, the asymmetry is not conical even for purely laminar now conditions, but is very similar to that occurring on cylindrical after bodies. Furthermore, it is found that an asymmetric vortex pair cannot develop from symmetric crossflow separation unless symmetric crossflo w attachment is prevented.