Engineering topics

Harris, Franklin D.

Publications and source records attributed to Harris, Franklin D..

12 records

NASA NTRS2018

Theory Validation - 2 Points of View

The task of validating any given theory against any given proprotor/propeller data set is of immense importance. Not just to the researchers who are developing a theory, but to the working engineers using the theory to design a proprotor/propeller. However, there is major difference in how the two groups see validation. This difference is that, most frequently, researchers see the validation in coefficient form as, for example, CP versus CT or Figure of Merit versus CT. In contrast, design engineers are always working in the dimensional world as, for example, horsepower required to hover versus aircraft weight. The objective of the design engineer is, of course, to release drawings and specifications to manufacturing so a VTOL aircraft will be built with reasonably high assurance that the aircraft will meet the primary specifications.

Harris, Franklin D.↗

NASA NTRS2017

Hover Performance of Isolated Proprotors and Propellers - Experimental Data

The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is gaining momentum within the aeronautical community. A relatively small segment of this community is applying CFD technology in the prediction of VSTOL aircraft performance. An even smaller group of engineers are refining and applying fluid dynamics solvers to the problem of predicting hover performance of helicopter rotors and proprotors designed by rotorcraft advocates. This small group of CFD engineers who are attacking the hover performance problem have, today, been using a quite limited experimental data base upon which to demonstrate their progress. This is because their concentration has been on only two successful tiltrotor flying; namely the XV-15 and the MV-22B. No attention appears (as yet) to be directed at the CL-84 or the XC-142A. The purpose of this report is to expand the experimental data base of both proprotors and propellers so that comparisons of test and various theories can be made to several more configurations of these propulsive devices used by VSTOL aircraft.

Hover↗

NASA NTRS2017

Tiltrotor Conceptual Design

This year end progress report summarizes our engineering study of a large, VTOL civil transport that we began in August 2015. The task has been to follow up on work reported in Reference 1, which described a NASA, 2005 design study showing that a 120 passenger, tiltrotor aircraft capable of cruising at 350 knots at 30,000 feet was quite feasible. The objective of our task this year has been to investigate the feasibility of a 120 passenger, tiltrotor aircraft capable of cruising at 425 to 450 knots at altitude and having VSTOL capability at Denver (i.e., 5,000 feet) with an outside air temperature (OAT) of 95°F. A corollary to our work has been to examine the suitability of the engineering tools available to conduct the concept design study we have begun. We have relegated two key pieces of corollary work to an appendix and used the body of this report to transmit progress in our preliminary performance trend studies. By way of background, in January of 2016, Mr. Harris presented a paper titled The VSTOL Performance Gap at the AHS Technical Meeting on Aeromechanics Design for Vertical Lift. This presentation is included in this year end report as Appendix A. A key concluding chart in that presentation is repeated here as Fig. 1. The Rotorcraft Branch at NASA Ames was already studying a tiltrotor suited for the regional carrier routes, but no effort beyond the 2005 results reported in Ref. 1 was going on. Therefore, we took on the task of extending the 350 knot, 120 passenger tiltrotor studies up to speeds associated with major airline routes.

Conceptual Design↗

NASA NTRS2012

Converting a C-130 Hercules into a Compound Helicopter: A Conceptual Design Study

Currently, the US Military and NASA are investigating the feasibility of a Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing (VSTOL) aircraft that can provide invaluable aid in the combat theater and significantly improve the civil transportation system. The nominal military mission requirement calls for a 28-ton payload heavy lift capability while the civilian requirements calls for a 90-passenger, 1000-nm range, airliner, as noted in Reference 1. To aid in these aircraft requirements, the present study examined the conversion of a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules into a compound aircraft, which would demonstrate the technology required by a much larger version. The present study examined various configurations and rotor blade designs in order to fulfill the nominal mission described previously. It was shown that the initial design of a 180 ft diameter rotor to lift 155,000 lb was not feasible due to material constraints. A revised design, in which the rotor radius was reduced to 55 ft, met the given constraints but required too much power. The decision was made to move to a twin rotor compound to take advantage of the increased disc area and drop the need for anti torque devices. Following this design shift, a new design point was found where all five constraints were met and the power requirements were deemed reasonable. This twin-rotor design was used in NDARC to provide a complete sizing analysis of the chosen design point.

Kottapalli, Anjaney P.↗

NASA NTRS2010

Converting a C-130 Hercules into a Compound Helicopter: A Conceptual Design Study

This study presents the performance and weight changes for a Compound C-130 as compared to the Baseline C-130H Hercules, using NDARC as the primary analysis tool. First, the C-130H was modeled within NDARC, from which performance at various conditions and a parametric weight statement were generated. Then, the C-130H NDARC file was modified to represent the Compound C-130, which was then put through the same performance analysis as the C-130H. A parametric weight statement was also calculated for the Compound C-130, which allowed for comparison to the C-130H. As part of the modeling of the Compound C-130, a Rotor Design Spreadsheet was created that would allow the direct calculation of the weight of the main rotors being added. Using composite materials led to considerable weight savings for both the rotor system and the hub weights. These weight savings are reflected in the NDARC Technology Factors which were determined to be 0.71 and 0.5 for the rotor blades and the hub/hinge system, respectively. Such Technology Factors suggest that using composites for other components could drastically lighten the Operating Empty Weight of the aircraft. The weight statements show the weights for each of the components on each aircraft. It is quite evident that the Compound C-130 has a higher Operating Empty Weight due to the addition of the two main rotors and a drive system to connect each engine group on the wing tips. Upon further analysis, the main weight driver is the drive system. While the main rotor/hub/hinge weight increase is to be expected, the weight increase due to the transmission drive and gear boxes are cause for concern. Unless a method can be found of reducing the weight of the drive system, the weight penalty makes the Compound a C-130 an inefficient aircraft in terms of payload/fuel capacity. Possible solutions are either off-loading some of the power requirements through the drive system or using composite materials in the construction of the drive system. The performance of the Compound C-130 versus the C-130H shows a clear need for more powerful engines than are currently present on the C-130H. This would also adversely affect the Operating Empty Weight since a larger power plant requires more weight. However, one advantage that the Compound C-130 presents is the ability to hover and operate at low speeds in Helicopter Mode. While the C-130H is unable to travel at speeds lower than its stall speed, the Compound C-130 is able to hover using the main rotors. Thus, the Compound C-130 is able to operate independent of runways, let alone the condition of the nearest runway. Ultimately, the Compound C-130 is an effective aircraft in theaters requiring VTOL aircraft due to geographical considerations in terms or performance. Unfortunately, the weight penalty associated with converting the C-130H to a Compound C-130 suggests that further work in the area of the drive systems is required.

Kottapalli, Anjaney P.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Rotor Performance at High Advance Ratio: Theory versus Test

Five analytical tools have been used to study rotor performance at high advance ratio. One is representative of autogyro rotor theory in 1934 and four are representative of helicopter rotor theory in 2008. The five theories are measured against three sets of well documented, full-scale, isolated rotor performance experiments. The major finding of this study is that the decades spent by many rotorcraft theoreticians to improve prediction of basic rotor aerodynamic performance has paid off. This payoff, illustrated by comparing the CAMRAD II comprehensive code and Wheatley & Bailey theory to H-34 test data, shows that rational rotor lift to drag ratios are now predictable. The 1934 theory predicted L/D ratios as high as 15. CAMRAD II predictions compared well with H-34 test data having L/D ratios more on the order of 7 to 9. However, the detailed examination of the selected codes compared to H-34 test data indicates that not one of the codes can predict to engineering accuracy above an advance ratio of 0.62 the control positions and shaft angle of attack required for a given lift. There is no full-scale rotor performance data available for advance ratios above 1.0 and extrapolation of currently available data to advance ratios on the order of 2.0 is unreasonable despite the needs of future rotorcraft. Therefore, it is recommended that an overly strong full-scale rotor blade set be obtained and tested in a suitable wind tunnel to at least an advance ratio of 2.5. A tail rotor from a Sikorsky CH-53 or other large single rotor helicopter should be adequate for this exploratory experiment.

Harris, Franklin D.↗

NASA NTRS2006

A Note about Self-Induced Velocity Generated by a Lifting-Line Wing or Rotor Blade

This report presents an elementary analysis of the induced velocity created by a field of vortices that reside in the wake of a rotor blade. Progress achieved by other researchers in the last 70 years is briefly reviewed. The present work is presented in four stages of complexity that carry a lifting-line representation of a fixed wing into a single-blade rotor. The analysis leads to the conclusion that the lifting rotor's spiraling vortex wake structure has very high induced power when compared to the ideal wing. For an advanced ratio of one-half, induced power is on the order of 10 times that of the wing when the comparison is made at wingspan equal to rotor diameter and wing and rotor having equal lift.

Harris, Franklin D.↗

NASA NTRS2005

An Economic Model of U.S. Airline Operating Expenses

This report presents a new economic model of operating expenses for 67 airlines. The model is based on data that the airlines reported to the United States Department of Transportation in 1999. The model incorporates expense-estimating equations that capture direct and indirect expenses of both passenger and cargo airlines. The variables and business factors included in the equations are detailed enough to calculate expenses at the flight equipment reporting level. Total operating expenses for a given airline are then obtained by summation over all aircraft operated by the airline. The model's accuracy is demonstrated by correlation with the DOT Form 41 data from which it was derived. Passenger airlines are more accurately modeled than cargo airlines. An appendix presents a concise summary of the expense estimating equations with explanatory notes. The equations include many operational and aircraft variables, which accommodate any changes that airline and aircraft manufacturers might make to lower expenses in the future. In 1999, total operating expenses of the 67 airlines included in this study amounted to slightly over $100.5 billion. The economic model reported herein estimates $109.3 billion.

Harris, Franklin D.↗

NASA NTRS2003

An Overview of Autogyros and The McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane

This report and its lengthy appendix first reviews early autogyro history. The period from Juan de la Cierva's invention in the early1920s through to the U. S. Army Air Corps' choice, in 1943, of the helicopter instead of the more fully developed autogyro, is examined from a technical point of view. With this historical background in hand, simple aerodynamic technology for rotors, wings, propeller, and fuselages is provided for reference. The McDonnell XV-1 convertiplane development and its program are discussed in detail, with particular emphasis on the wind tunnel and flight testing that was accomplished with two prototype aircraft in the early 1950s. The tip drive rotor system with its ingeniously designed hub was well suited to high speed rotorcraft. The configuration was conceived by Kurt Hohenemser and Fred Dubloff. Many photographs taken of the XV-1 stored at Fort Rucker are included in this report's appendix.

Harris, Franklin D.↗

NASA NTRS2000

U.S. Civil Rotorcraft Accidents, 1963 Through 1997

Narrative summary data produced by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been obtained and analyzed for all 8,436 U.S. civil registered rotorcraft accidents which occurred from mid-1963 through 1997. This analysis was based on the NTSB's assignment of each mishap into one of 21 "first event" categories. The number of U.S. civil registered rotorcraft as recorded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the same period has also been obtained. Taken together, these data indicate the civil rotorcraft accident rate (on a per 1,000 registered rotorcraft basis) has decreased by almost a factor of 10 (i.e., from 130 accidents per 1,000 rotorcraft in 1964 to 13.4 per 1,000 in 1997). Analysis of the mishap data indicates over 70% of the rotorcraft accidents were associated with one of the following four NTSB "first event" categories: 2408 Loss of engine power (28.5%); 1,322 In-flight collisions with objects (15.7%); 1,114 Loss of control (13.2%); 1,083 Airframe/component/system failure or malfunction (12.8%).

Harris, Franklin D.↗

NASA NTRS1998

U.S. Civil Rotorcraft Accidents, 1963 through 1997

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recorded 8,436 rotorcraft accidents during the period mid - 1963 through the end of 1997. Review and analysis of the NTSB summary narrative for each accident has been completed. In addition, FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) counts of the growing registered rotorcraft fleet over this period has obtained. Taken together, a large and informative data base is now available, which indicates that the accident rate (on a per airframe basis) has changed very little since the mid 1970s. The data base, even in the summary form provided by this paper, offers suggestions for safer designs and improved flight operations. For analysis purposes, each accident has been placed in one of 21 top level categories as defined by the NTSB. Analysis of this grouping shows that 70 percent of rotorcraft accidents are associated with four categories. The accident count in these top four categories are: (1) 2,408 Loss of engine power (2) 1,322 In flight collision with object (3) 1,114 Loss of control (4) 1,083 Airframe/component/system failure or malfunction. Single engine rotorcraft dominate these accident statistics because of their sheer numbers over the study period. One-third of the loss of engine power accidents with these aircraft is fuel/air mixture related and fuel exhaustion is a common event. This appears to be the case whether a piston or turbine engine is installed. This paper provides similar study results in the other major mishap categories. It shows that both minor and major design and flight operations changes can -- and should -- be made to reduce rotorcraft accidents in the future. The paper outlines these changes and suggests how they may be made.

Harris, Franklin D.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Performance Analysis of Two Early NACA High Speed Propellers with Application to Civil Tiltrotor Configurations

The helicopter industry is vigorously pursuing development of civil tiltrotors. One key to efficient high speed performance of this rotorcraft is prop-rotor performance. Of equal, if not greater, importance is assurance that the flight envelope is free of aeroelastic instabilities well beyond currently envisioned cuise speeds. This later condition requires study at helical tip Match numbers well in excess of 1.0. Two 1940's 'supersonic' propeller experiments conducted by NACA have provided an immensely valuable data bank with which to study prop-rotor behavior at transonic and supersonic helical tip Mach numbers. Very accurate 'blades alone' data were obtained by using nearly an infinite hub. Tabulated data were recreated from the many thrust and power figures and are included in two Appendices to this report. This data set is exceptionally well suited to re-evaluating classical blade element theories as well as evolving computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analyses. A limited comparison of one propeller's experimental results to a modem rotorcraft CFD code is made. This code, referred to as TURNS, gives very encouraging results. Detailed analysis of the performance data from both propellers is provided in Appendix A. This appendix quantifies the minimum power required to produce usable prop-rotor thrust. The dependence of minimum profile power on Reynolds number is quantified. First order compressibility power losses are quantified as well and a first approximation to design air-foil thickness ratio to avoid compressibility losses is provided. Appendix A's results are applied to study high speed civil tiltrotor cruise performance. Predicted tiltrotor performance is compared to two turboprop commercial transports. The comparison shows that there is no fundamental aerodynamic reason why the rotorcraft industry could not develop civil tiltrotor aircraft which have competitive cruise performance with today's regional, turboprop airlines. Recommendations for future study that will insure efficient prop-rotor performance to well beyond 400 knots are given.

Harris, Franklin D.↗