Measurement of aerodynamic heating on the nose of a delta aircraft at speeds up to M = 1.65

Abstract

This Report presents skin-temperature measurements recorded during a climb and level-flight acceleration at 40,000 feet, at speeds up to M = 1.65. The temperatures were measured at 27 points on the skin of the aircraft nose, on a diaphragm forming part of the nose internal structure and inside the nose. Measurements were first made with the skin clean, and then with it painted. Comparison with estimates of boundary-layer temperature shows that during accelerations of about 0.3 M/minute the skin temperature lagged behind the estimated value by about 5°C, for the clean skin, and by about 9°C for the painted skin. The maximum skin temperature reached was about 100°C above ambient. Agreement between measured and calculated skin temperatures was good.