Experimental Study of Surface Pressure Distribution on a Prolate Spheroid at Small Incidence

Abstract

The separated flow field around prolate spheroid at small incidence is investigated experimentally. The measurement of the surface pressure distribution and the flow visualization are carried out. From the results of the flow visualization, surface stream pattern and the position of the separation line are obtained, and saddle points exist on the separation line of the side. Several flow patterns are observed near rear end by careful consideration of the flow field near symmetric plane. All of those flow patterns are consistent topologically with the flow which has saddle points on the separation line of the side. The results of the surface pressure distribution are considered with the results of the flow visualization. It is found thet the effect of longitudinal vortex component grows strong as the angle of attack increases, the flow pattern obtained from pressure distribution and the flow pattern obtained from visualization are consistent.