Experimental investigation into the interference aerodynamics of two slender bodies in close proximity

Aerodynamic interference between high-speed slender bodies can detrimentally affect the force and moment characteristics. This is investigated through a wind tunnel study using pressure sensitive paint and force measurements on a receiver body placed adjacent to a generator body. The aim of this paper is to understand both the force and moment changes as well as the underlying aerodynamics of the interference loads which are induced by the disturbance flowfield. The impact of receiver incidence and the strength of the disturbance field are also assessed. The observed interference loads primarily depend on a complex balance of static pressure footprints and tend to be bespoke to each configuration. As a result, overall trends are difficult to extract, but in general the magnitude of the interference loads increases when the receiver is at incidence and also when the strength of the imposed disturbance flowfield increases.