A procedure for designing forebodies with constraints on cross-section shape and axial area distribution
A method is described for designing a forebody with cross sections which vary smoothly from an initial prescribed nose shape to a different prescribed base shape in such a way that the cross-section areas conform to a preassigned axial area distribution. It is shown that these conditions can be satisfied with a remaining degree of freedon, which can be used to accomplish a modest amount of geometric or pressure tailoring of the forebody. An example is provided which involves modifying the pressure distribution along a given meridian line of the forebody.