Analysis of cone-derived waveriders by hypersonic small-disturbance theory
Hypersonic small-disturbance theory is used to analyze slender waveriders derived from axisymmetric flows past circular cones. Viscous effects are accounted for by means of laminar boundary-layer theory. The shape of the waverider is determined by specifying the upper freestream surface, from which the lower compression surface can then be obtained. When this is done, the lift, drag, and pitching moment are determined in terms of quadratures over the shock layer in the base plane. They are functions of freestream Mach number, freestream Reynolds number based on the length of the waverider, some measure of slenderness, and other parameters relating to the shape of the waverider. The functional relationships can be cast in terms of similarity laws. The lift-to-drag ratio is determined for a wide range of shapes and parameters.