An effector having an extendible range and a method for extending the range of an effector includes using an axially translatable center body that is movable from a stowed position, in which the center body is stowed in an outer body of the effector, to a deployed position in which the center body extends out of the outer body to extend the axial length of the effector. The effector includes a ramjet assembly and the subsystems of the effector are contained in the center body. The movement of the center body exposes radially positioned ramjet fuel in the outer body, such that the air entering the ramjet inlet may be heated by combusting the air with the fuel for additional fuel and propulsion of the effector.

A method for making an improved projectile 360, 460 by defining a discontinuity, groove or trough in a distal ogive section of the projectile to provide an external ballistic. effect uniforming surface feature (e.g., nose ring groove 369, 469) which makes an unsupported gap in the ogive profile that beneficially affects the flow of air over the front half of the ogive. The improved bullet's external surface discontinuity feature (369 or 469) creates effects in the flowfield that dominate any dynamic effects from bullet-to bullet manufacturing inconsistency and resultant differences in dynamic behavior.

A firearm projectile is provided to promote a yaw effect on material entry by the projectile and to enhance wound channel formation on entered material. The firearm projectile comprises an elongated body, having a surface formed as a surface of revolution. It further consists of an ovoid forward portion and a cylindrical rear portion.

A flow deflector for an aerial vehicle system has a flow deflector body, a clip arranged in an interior of the flow deflector body, and a spring within the clip. The flow deflector body includes a first portion at a forward end shaped to engage a surface of an aerial vehicle body and a second portion at an aft end shaped to engage a surface of a booster engine. The flow deflector body can include a plurality of body segments arranged to form the flow deflector body. The clip may be configured to fit around and engage a portion of an aft flange of the aerial vehicle body. The spring can be preloaded and arranged to press on the aft flange when the clip engages the portion of the aft flange.

A projectile 360, 460 includes a body having a distal ogive section with external ballistic effect uniforming surface discontinuity (e.g., nose ring groove 369, 469) defined therein to provide an unsupported gap in the ogive profile which affects the flow of air over the front half of the ogive to provide greater aerodynamic uniformity and shot-to-shot consistency with more uniform observed external ballistics and superior terminal ballistics. The bullet's external surface discontinuity feature (369 or 469) creates effects in the flowfield that dominate any dynamic effects from bullet-to-bullet manufacturing inconsistency and resultant differences in dynamic behavior.

A method of reducing low-energy flow in a flight vehicle engine includes an isolator of the engine having a swept-back wedge to improve flow mixing. The wedge includes forward shock-anchoring locations, such as edges or rapidly-curved portions, that anchor oblique shocks in situations where the isolator has sufficient back pressure. The swept-back wedge may also create swept oblique shocks along its length. Boundary layer flow streamlines are diverted running parallel to or parallel but moving outward conically to the swept-wedge leading edge moving outboard and upward. The non-viscous flow outside the boundary layer is processed through the swept-back ramp shock and diverted outboard and upward as well. The outboard aft portion of the wedge at the sidewall intersection may also induce shocks and divert flow near the walls closer toward the walls and upward, and/or improve flow mixing.

A method of reducing low-energy flow in a flight vehicle engine includes an isolator of the engine having a swept-back wedge to improve flow mixing. The wedge includes forward shock-anchoring locations, such as edges or rapidly-curved portions, that anchor oblique shocks in situations where the isolator has sufficient back pressure. The swept-back wedge may also create swept oblique shocks along its length. Boundary layer flow streamlines are diverted running parallel to or parallel but moving outward conically to the swept-wedge leading edge moving outboard and upward. The non-viscous flow outside the boundary layer is processed through the swept-back ramp shock and diverted outboard and upward as well. The outboard aft portion of the wedge at the sidewall intersection may also induce shocks and divert flow near the walls closer toward the walls and upward, and/or improve flow mixing.

In one embodiment, a method for reducing drag includes forming a smooth surface on a first portion of a physical object. The method also includes forming periodic riblets on a second portion of the physical object. The second portion of the physical object is adjacent to the first portion of the physical object. Each riblet of the periodic riblets of the second portion of the physical object is depressed below a plane of the smooth surface of the first portion of the physical object. The method further includes generating a flow over the periodic riblets of the second portion of the physical object and over the smooth surface of the first portion of the physical object. A length of each riblet of the periodic riblets runs parallel to a direction of the flow.

Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.

A firearm projectile is provided to promote a yaw effect on material entry by the projectile and to enhance wound channel formation on entered material. The firearm projectile comprises an elongated body, having a surface formed as a surface of revolution. It further consists of an ovoid forward portion and a cylindrical rear potion.