Terminal Sinking Velocities for a Series of Flat Nosed Bodies

Abstract

Drag studies were made on a series of models having varying degrees of bluntness and varying length-to-diameter ratios. Using the drag coefficients obtained from the tests, terminal sinking velocities in sea water were calculated for various volumes and densities. It was found that the terminal sinking velocity of a blunt-nosed body could be increased 15 percent if the length-to-diameter ratio was increased from 7 to 14 for the same volume. The terminal sinking velocity of a fine-nosed body could be increased only 2 percent if the length-to-diameter ratio was increased from 6 to 12.