Occurrence and inhibition of large yawing moments during high-incidence flight of slender missile configurations

Abstract

This paper deals with the occurrence of asymmetric wake configurations, and associated side forces and yawing moments, during high-incidnce flight of slender, axisymmetric missile configurations. The relevant phenomena are characterized experimentally, and the root causes of wake asymmetries and means of inhibiting their occurrence are explored. It is concluded that certain flowfield disturbance devices may be effective in significantly reducing the maximum values of yawing moments induced by asymmetric disposition of wake vortices.