Engineering topics

Fischer, M. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Fischer, M. C..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1990

Supersonic laminar flow control on commercial transports

This paper provides an overview of the status of supersonic laminar flow control. Existing research into the aerodynamic problems of subsonic and supersonic laminar flow control is first reviewed to provide a prospective for subsequent discussions of recent studies to evaluate the potential performance benefits of the application of laminar flow control to supersonic transports. A flight research program to provide a realistic assessment of the technical feasibility is then described.

Wagner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Laminar flow integration: Flight tests status and plans

Under the Aircraft Energy Efficiency - Laminar Flow Control Program, there are currently three flight test programs under way to address critical issues concerning laminar flow technology application to commercial transports. The Leading-Edge Flight Test (LEFT) with a JetStar aircraft is a cooperative effort with the Ames/Dryden Flight Research Facility to provide operational experience with candidate leading-edge systems representative of those that might be used on a future transport. In the Variable Sweep Transition Flight Experiment (VSTFE), also a cooperative effort between Langley and Ames/Dryden, basic transition data on an F-14 wing with variable sweep will be obtained to provide a data base for laminar flow wing design. Finally, under contract to the Boeing Company, the acoustic environment on the wing of a 757 aircraft will be measured and the influence of engine noise on laminar flow determined with a natural laminar flow glove on the wing. The status and plans for these programs are reported.

Wagner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Cloud particle effects on laminar flow in the NASA LEFT program - Preliminary results

Laminar flow offers the promise of significant fuel savings on future commercial transport aircraft, but laminar flow can be lost while encountering clouds or haze at cruise conditions. To quantify the effect of cloud particles on laminar flow during typical airline operating conditions, and evaluate candidate cloud particle detection instrument concepts for future laminar flow aircraft, two types of cloud particle detectors are being flown aboard a NASA JetStar aircraft in the Leading Edge Flight Test (LEFT) program. The instrumentation is described, and preliminary results and conclusions are presented.

Davis, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Design considerations for application of laminar flow control systems to transport aircraft

The current status of the laminar-flow control LFC technology is summarized. Factors that have previously inhibited the application of LFC are first reviewed. Involved are the effects of atmospheric ice crystals, surface irregularities, acoustical environment, and off-design operating conditions. Aircraft design trends that are different from turbulent aircraft are discussed as are various design requirements unique to the LFC systems. Current design approaches for the principal LFC systems are reviewed. These include the system for protection of the leading-edge region from surface contamination and icing and the system for removal of a portion of the boundary-layer air. The latter includes consideration of both multiple spanwise suction slots and distributed perforations and required differences between the wing-box and leading-edge box regions.

Braslow, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Technology developments for laminar boundary layer control on subsonic transport aircraft

The development of laminar flow technology for commercial transport aircraft is discussed and illustrated in a review of studies undertaken in the NASA Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) program since 1976. The early history of laminar flow control (LFC) techniques and natural laminar flow (NLF) airfoil designs is traced, and the aims of ACEE are outlined. The application of slotted structures, composites, and electron beam perforated metals in supercritical LFC airfoils, wing panels, and leading edge systems is examined; wind tunnel and flight test results are summarized; studies of high altitude ice effects are described; and hybrid (LFC/NLF designs are characterized. Drawings and photographs are provided.

Wagner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Technology developments for laminar boundary layer control on subsonic transport aircraft

An overview of laminar flow control (LFC) technology developments is presented, along with a description of NASA's broadened program concerning laminar flow concepts for commercial transports. Topics covered include developments in LFC airfoils, wing surface panels, and leading-edge systems, as well as the effects of high altitude ice particles and insect impacts. It is suggested that the electron beam perforated titanium surface is superior to the Dynapore surface. The Douglas LFC wing design, the Krueger flap, the Lockheed, and the Douglas leading-edge concepts are covered. Future research includes an evaluation of a hybrid LFC concept, which combines LFC suction in the leading-edge region with natural laminar flow over the wing box.

Wagner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Technology developments for laminar boundary layer control on subsonic transport aircraft

The development of laminar-flow technology for commercial transport aircraft is discussed and illustrated in a review of studies undertaken in the NASA Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) program since 1976. The early history of laminar-flow-control (LFC) techniques and natural-laminar-flow (NLF) airfoil designs is traced, and the aims of ACEE are outlined. The application of slotted structures, composites, and electron-beam-perforated metals in supercritical LFC airfoils, wing panels, and leading-edge systems is examined; wind-tunnel and flight test results are summarized; studies of high-altitude ice effects are described; and hybrid LFC/NLF designs are characterized. Drawings and photographs are provided.

Wagner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Fresh attack on laminar flow

Laminar flow control is a technology with great potential for aircraft drag reduction. Stabilization of laminar boundary layers became known as natural laminar flow (NLF) and research led to the development of NLF airfoils. Research was also conducted on stabilization by suction, referred to as laminar flow control (LFC). Experiments demonstrated that extensive laminar flow could be achieved in flight. However, there remained doubts regarding the practicality of producing, with the technology then available, wing surfaces sufficiently smooth and wavefree to meet laminar-flow criteria and maintaining the wing surface quality in normal service. In 1976, the Aircraft Energy Efficiency (ACEE) program was begun by NASA to develop fuel-conservative technology for commercial transports. The progress of the ACEE program is discussed. Attention is given to LFC wing structures, and LFC leading-edge systems.

Wagner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A flight test of laminar flow control leading-edge systems

NASA's program for development of a laminar flow technology base for application to commercial transports has made significant progress since its inception in 1976. Current efforts are focused on development of practical reliable systems for the leading-edge region where the most difficult problems in applying laminar flow exist. Practical solutions to these problems will remove many concerns about the ultimate practicality of laminar flow. To address these issues, two contractors performed studies, conducted development tests, and designed and fabricated fully functional leading-edge test articles for installation on the NASA JetStar aircraft. Systems evaluation and performance testing will be conducted to thoroughly evaluate all system capabilities and characteristics. A simulated airline service flight test program will be performed to obtain the operational sensitivity, maintenance, and reliability data needed to establish that practical solutions exist for the difficult leading-edge area of a future commercial transport employing laminar flow control.

Fischer, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Cloud particle effects on laminar flow and instrumentation for their measurement aboard a NASA LFC aircraft

Fuel costs account now for approximately 60 percent of the direct operating costs of airlines and future commercial transport will utilize advanced technologies for saving fuel on the basis of drag reduction. Laminar flow control (LFC) represents such an advanced technology. A new laminar flow wing on a reconfigured WB-66 aircraft was tested in the X-21 flight program. The tests confirmed that extensive laminar flow could be achieved at subsonic transport cruise conditions. Factors affecting adversely the maintenance of laminar flow were found to be related to ice particles encountered during the penetration of cirrus clouds or haze. The present investigation is concerned with the effect of ice particles on LFC, taking into account the results obtained in the Leading Edge Flight Test (LEFT) being conducted by NASA. Attention is given to ice particle measurements in the LEFT program.

Davis, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A flight test of laminar flow control leading-edge systems

Fischer, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Developments in the NASA transport aircraft laminar flow program

The NASA transport aircraft laminar flow program is assessed including on-going work and future research. The on-going program is discussed with reference to the advanced swept LFC airfoil tests, wind surface panel development, and leading edge flight tests. Among the areas of research considered are the variable sweep transition flight test, laminar flow wing aerodynamic design, and efficient laminar flow structures.

Wagner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Experimental verification of turbulent skin friction reduction with compliant walls

Preliminary compliant wall skin friction test results obtained in a low-turbulence pressure tunnel are reported. Compliant surface skins consisted of 0.0025 cm thick mylar, stretched under tension and area-bonded or longitudinally strip-bonded with silicone rubber adhesive to polyurethane foam. Mean velocity and fluctuating survey data were obtained with a single slanted hot wire. Mean velocity profiles for the area-bonded mylar surface skins indicated up to a 20% reduction in boundary-layer thickness (and lower momentum thickness) over rigid surfaces. This reduction in boundary-layer thickness indicates that a drag reduction occurred. In addition, a 16% reduction in wall shear was evident for the mylar/compressor foam compliant surface.

Weinstein, L. M.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Compliant wall-turbulent skin-friction reduction research

Previous compliant-wall experiments successful in reducing skin-friction drag probably have had a (unplanned) membrane resonance at a favorable frequency, amplitude, wave shape, length, and speed. The most probable drag reduction mechanism involves a direct coupling between the fluid and the moving wall when the wall natural resonance frequencies are near the fundamental turbulent burst frequency. Local skin-friction reductions of 61% were measured with mylar/PVC plastisol compliant surfaces. These reductions were observed only at certain flow conditions, indicating that changing tunnel total temperature may have altered the substrate dynamic modulus, damping, and coupled mylar tension. Apparently, the coupled membrane/substrate must be excited in compatible narrow-band natural frequency modes. An accelerated effort is required to develop practical durable compliant surfaces optimized for maximum drag reduction. Application of compliant walls to other transportation modes appears feasible with liquid flows offering the greatest skin-friction drag reduction potential.

Fischer, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Operating characteristics of the Langley Mach 10 high Reynolds number helium tunnel

Operating characteristics of the Langley Mach 10 high Reynolds number helium tunnel are presented for stagnation pressures from 138 N/sq cm to 1655 N/sq cm. The characteristics include detailed Mach number surveys in the test section from which usable core size and regions of disturbed flow were determined, preliminary blockage test results, and maximum run time to be expected at various stagnation pressures. Important tunnel dimensions including details of the model mounting apparatus are given. Measurements show the variation in average core Mach number in the test section to be between 9.4 and 10 for the present range of test conditions. The core radius is from 23 cm to 31.5 cm, depending on stagnation pressure and axial location in the test section.

Watson, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1974

A general review of concepts for reducing skin friction, including recommendations for future studies

Four main concepts which have significantly reduced skin friction in experimental studies are discussed; suction, gaseous injection, particle additives, and compliant wall. It is considered possible that each of these concepts could be developed and applied in viable skin friction reduction systems for aircraft application. Problem areas with each concept are discussed, and recommendations for future studies are made.

Fischer, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Three-dimensional hypersonic transitional/turbulent mean flow profiles.

Detailed three-dimensional compressible transitional/turbulent boundary-layer profiles are presented for use as test cases in numerical and integral calculation procedures. The profiles were obtained from tests conducted in the Mach 20 leg of the Langley High Reynolds Number Helium Facility. The presented data represent an arduous test case for analytical prediction methods, since 'low Reynolds number' and precursor transition effects should probably be accounted for to accurately predict the boundary-layer growth and development.

Fischer, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Turbulent bursts and rings on a cone in helium at Me = 7.6.

Review of data obtained on turbulent burst geometry and growth characteristics for cone boundary-layer transition in a helium wind tunnel at a boundary-layer edge Mach number (Me) of 7.6. Detailed data concerning turbulent spot geometry and downstream propagation velocities were obtained using a spark schlieren system with sequential spark capability. In one particular test evidence of a symmetrical turbulent burst ring was obtained; all other bursts developed in a singular random manner. Profiles of the apparent outer edges of the bursts were obtained, and the velocities of the leading and trailing edges of the bursts relative to the local velocity were determined. The velocities of the leading and trailing edges were found to be fairly consistent for each observation, with the leading edge of the burst traveling at about local edge velocity, while the trailing edge moved supersonically relative to local speed.

Fischer, M. C.↗