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Betz, A

Publications and source records attributed to Betz, A.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1944

Axial superchargers

Improvements, however, have been attained which permit a shortening of the structure without any impairment of the efficiency. The axial supercharger has a better efficiency and a simpler design than the radial supercharger. The relatively narrow range in which it operates satisfactorily should not be a very disturbing factor for practical flight problems. The length of this type of supercharger may be reduced considerably if some impairment in the efficiency is permitted.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1939

Design of centrifugal impeller blades

This paper restricts itself to radial impellers with cylindrical blades since, as Prasil has shown, the flow about an arbitrarily curved surface of revolution may be reduced to this normal form we have chosen by a relatively simple conformal transformation. This method starts from the simple hypotheses of the older centrifugal impeller theory by first assuming an impeller with an infinite number of blades. How the flow is then modified is then investigated. For the computation of flow for a finite number of blades, the approximation method as developed by Munk, Prandtl and Birnbaum, or Glauert is found suitable. The essential idea of this method is to replace the wing by a vortex sheet and compute the flow as the field of these vortices. The shape of the blades is then obtained from the condition that the flow must be along the surface of the blade.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1937

The ground effect on lifting propellers

In what follows an estimate will be made of the magnitude of the ground effect. For the two cases where the distance a of the propeller from the ground is very small, and very large, respectively, in comparison with the propeller radius r(sub o) the relations may be simply expressed. We consider first the effect of the ground, assuming that the thrust is held constant, as may be done by a suitable change in the propeller speed.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1935

Modification of wing-section shape to assure a predetermined change in pressure distribution

In order to find an airfoil for a predetermined pressure distribution, the problem must be posed so that the pressure distribution creates no drag. Another fundamental difficulty is that it is impossible to specify a pressure distribution without first knowing the place where these pressures are to be applied, i.e., the wing-section shape. This difficulty may be avoided by directing the pressure distribution along the contour of the wing section. Then it becomes possible to define the change in wing-section shape which effects a certain modification of the wing-section shape. The limitations underlying the required pressure distribution are discussed and it is found that the sole essential limitation is zero drag. The method is illustrated with an example.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1933

Behavior of Vortex Systems

Progressive application of the Kutta-Joukowsky theorem to the relationship between airfoil lift and circulation affords a number of formulas concerning the conduct of vortex systems. The application of this line of reasoning to several problems of airfoil theory yields an insight into many hitherto little observed relations. This report is confined to plane flow, hence all vortex filaments are straight and mutually parallel (perpendicular to the plane of flow).

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1932

Reduction of wing lift by the drag

Drag and loss of lift of a wing are attributable to the same cause, wake formation, thus indicating that there is some relation between both. The analysis of measurements on Joukowsky sections revealed a typical course of curves for the interdependence between drag and loss of lift. The shape of the curves apparently depends quite regularly on the mean camber and on the thickness of the profile.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1932

Application of the theory of free jets

Based upon Kirchoff's theory of free jets the flow through different screen arrangements of flat plates, as chiefly encountered with turbines in the cavitation zone is defined. It is shown by experiments that these theoretical results are very well representative in most cases of the conditions of discharge from water in air and consequently by cavitation. In addition, the experiments reveal a picture of the discrepancies between the actual flow and the theory of discharge of air in air (of water in water without cavitation). These discrepancies are explained qualitatively by the mingling processes between the jets and the dead air zones.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1930

The vortex theory and its significance in aviation

This report will present ideas closely related to the vortex conception and illustrate them in the simplest possible terms. In addition to these general considerations, this report will attempt to show the application of the vortex theory in connection with the wing theory.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1929

Contribution to the aileron theory

In an attempt to treat theoretically the effect of ailerons, difficulty arises because an aileron may begin at any point of the wing. Hence the question arises as to how the transition of the lift distribution proceeds at such a point, since the effect of the aileron (i.e., the moment generated about the longitudinal axis) depends largely on this distribution. In order to answer this question regarding the lift distribution during irregular variations in the angle of attack at first independently of other influences, especially those of the wing tips, we have taken as the basis of the following theoretical discussion a wing of infinite span and constant chord which exhibits at one point an irregular variation in the angle of attack. As regards the mathematical treatment, we will first consider a wing with periodically recurring angle of attack.

LIFT DISTRIBUTION - WINGS↗
NASA NTRS1928

Propeller problems

This report tries to give a comprehensive survey of the most important propeller problems such as the shape of propellers and the effect of atmospheric conditions on propeller performance.

PROPELLER SLIPSTREAM↗
NASA NTRS1928

Considerations on propeller efficiency

The propeller cannot be considered alone, but the mutual interference between propeller and airplane must be considered. These difficulties are so great when the joint action of propeller and airplane is considered, that the aerodynamic laboratory at Gottingen originally abandoned the idea of applying the efficiency conception of the test results. These difficulties and the methods by which they are overcome are outlined in this report.

PROPELLER THRUST & TORQUE↗
NASA NTRS1928

Windmills in the light of modern research

The chief contribution of modern research in the field of windmills is a better understanding of the phenomena and of the available means for the accomplishment of certain results, but also of the natural limits to their productive capacity.

WINDMILLS - RESEARCH↗
NASA NTRS1927

Experiments on airfoils with aileron and slot

The present report contains the results of a few experiments on three airfoils to which the rear portions, having chords respectively 1/4, 1/3, and 2/5 of the total chords, are hinged so as to form ailerons, especial attention being given to the shape of the slot between the aileron and the main portion of the aileron.

AIRFOILS - WIND TUNNEL TESTS↗
NASA NTRS1926

Experiments with an Airfoil from which the Boundary Layer Is Removed by Suction

Our attempts to improve the properties of airfoils by removing the boundary layer by suction, go back to 1922. The object of the suction is chiefly to prevent the detachment of the boundary layer from the surface of the airfoil. At large angles of attack, such detachment prevents the attainment of the great lift promised by the theory, besides greatly increasing the drag, especially of thick airfoils. This report gives results of those experiments.

BOUNDARY LAYER REMOVAL - SUCTION↗
NASA NTRS1925

A method for the direct determination of wing-section drag

In order that the method may be more easily understood, we will first consider the simpler case when there is no lift, but only drag, and when the streamlines at the measuring point behind the obstacle are nearly parallel. Moreover, the flow is assumed not to deviate much from the two-dimensional flow.

Betz, A↗
NASA NTRS1925

The "Magnus effect" - the principle of the Flettner rotor

The phenomenon of the Magnus effect consists in the fact that a revolving body moving relatively to the surrounding fluid (air) is subjected not only to drag (i.e., a force acting in a direction opposite to that of the direction of motion), but also to a lift.

AERODYNAMICS - WIND PROPULSION↗
NASA NTRS1924

Velocity and pressure distribution behind bodies in an air current

The following experiments on the air flow behind bodies were made for the purpose of assisting in the explanation of the phenomena connected with air resistance. The first two series of experiments dealt with the phenomena behind a cylinder. The third series of experiments was carried out behind a streamlined strut.

PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION - BODIES↗