Abstract

The supersonic aerodynamic characteristics of lifting bodies with blunt thick delta configuration at high angles of attack are experimentally investigated by using the transonic and supersonic wind tunnels. The results show that the lift-to-drag ratio at the trimmed attack angle can be enhanced by the use of the bent nose and body flaps. Significant temporal nonperiodic fluctuation of the aerodynamic force is observed in the narrow freestream range around the Mach number 1. 5 and attack angle 25 deg. The high speed Schlieren pictures reveal that the intermittent breakdown of the leeward vortex pair causes such unsteadiness. This fluctuation can be abbreviated by the combination of the bent nose and the body flaps located on the upper surface of the body.