Investigation of aerodynamic drag of two bodies in trans- and supersonic flows

Results of experimental investigations of trans- or supersonic flow around two bodies (cone–disk or sphere–disk) connected by a cylindrical rod along the axis of symmetry are presented. The special features of the flow are analyzed. It is found that the dependence of the drag coefficient $C_x$ of a pair of bodies on the Mach number within the range $0.6\le\mathrm{M}\le1.7$ is nonmonotonic. The reasons for the hysteresis in the dependences $C_x(\mathrm{M})$ for two bodies at the stages of flow acceleration and deceleration and discrete variation of the Mach number are clarified. The influence of cone angles and sizes of both bodies on the drag coefficient is estimated.