Aerodynamic interaction of meteor-body fragments: The collimation effect

The mutual effect of meteor bodies in a supersonic flow and the aerodynamic properties of a configuration consisting of two spherical fragments of different radii, was analyzed. On the basis of the numerical calculation, it was found that the pressure distribution in the flow around the fragments at their different relative positions. The coefficients for both the transverse force and the drag force are found as functions of the angle between the centerline and incident flow at different distances between the bodies. On the basis of the numerical simulation, it was shown that owing to the collimation effect, the fragment cloud tends to acquire a needle-shaped form. The important aerodynamic coefficient that determines the configuration of fragments is the drag coefficient. The pressure in the body system is distributed in such a manner that the repulsive force acting on the external bodies is much stronger than that acting on internal bodies.