Blunt-nosed missile shapes of minimum ballistic factor

Abstract

The class of slender, axisymmetric missiles of given length, base radius, and specific weight is considered under the assumptions that the pressure distribution is modified Newtonian and the surface-averaged skin-friction coefficient is constant. The problem of minimizing the ballistic factor is formulated and solved via the calculus of variations for the case where the nose radius of the missile has a specified value, not necessarily zero.