  Common envelope evolution, the key orbital tightening phase of the
traditional formation channel for close binaries, is a multistage process that
presents many challenges to the establishment of a fully descriptive,
predictive theoretical framework. In an approach complementary to global 3D
hydrodynamical modeling, we explore the range of applicability for a simplified
drag formalism that incorporates the results of local hydrodynamic "wind
tunnel" simulations into a semi-analytical framework in the treatment of the
common envelope dynamical inspiral phase using a library of realistic giant
branch stellar models across the low, intermediate, and high mass regimes. In
terms of a small number of key dimensionless parameters, we characterize a wide
range of common envelope events, revealing the broad range of applicability of
the drag formalism as well its self-similar nature across mass regimes and
ages. Limitations arising from global binary properties and local structural
quantities are discussed together with the opportunity for a general
prescriptive application for this formalism.
