Vertical Water Entry of Spheres.

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the vertical water entry deceleration of a sphere and a hemisphere-cylinder is described. A common total drag is determined as a function of penetration distance. This result is compared to the result of previous investigators with good agreement occurring with the theory of M. Shiffman and D. C. Spencer and the experiments of C. R. Nisewanger. Possible errors introduced by extrapolation of this result to higher entry speeds are estimated. (Author)