The equivalent angle-of-attack concept for engineering analysis

An account is given of methods for the estimation of a wing-body-tail missile configuration's aerodynamic performance by means of the 'component buildup' method, in which the overall aerodynamic loads for an airframe are built up from the assumed characteristics of isolated airframe components and then subjected to additional loads generated by component interference. Attention is given to the cases of missile airframes in steady flow at arbitrary angles of attack and bank; the unifying thread of the present treatment is slender body theory, together with its nonlinear extensions through the equivalent angle-of-attack concept. The estimation of the forces and moments acting on each of the fins is emphasized, so that control cross-coupling effects as well as longitudinal and lateral directional effects can be determined.