Experimental investigation of side force control on circular cones using nose blunting

In this report, the effect of nose blunting for side force alleviation are addressed in significant detail through a systematic study. Experiments have been carried out on two cone models of semi-apex angle 8° and 12°, covering a very wide range of Reynolds number (based on the base diameter) from 0 .4 x 106 to 5 .4 x 106 at low speeds. On each cone model, the nose bluntness ratio was varied from 0% (sharp cone) upto 20% (based on the base diameter). Accurate six-component balance measurements have been made over a range of angle of attack upto 45° . Surface pressure distributions on the 12° cone model have been made in order to gain a better understanding of cross-flow features and bluntness effects . Surface flow visualization has been carried out to provide information on the structure of the cross-flow separation including type of separation (laminar, transition and turbulent)