Engineering topics

Karamcheti, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Karamcheti, K..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1992

Comment on 'Direct observation of the intermittency of intense vorticity filaments in turbulence'

In their discussion of the behavior of vorticity and dissipation in turbulent flow, Douady et al. (1991) proposed an electrostatic analogy for the pressure based on the divergence of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. It is argued here that their proposed interpretation of the pressure source for incompressible flow is unnecessarily narrow and should be extended to compressible and noise-producing flow on the basis of existing theory.

Horne, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Frequency measurements in a finite cylinder wake at a subcritical Reynolds number

A spectral study of a hot-wire investigation in the near wake of a finite circular cylinder of high-aspect ratio is reported. The measurements included frequency spectra and cross correlations in spanwise and streamwise directions. The study identifies four spanwise regions, in terms of frequency, in the immediate wake of the finite cylinder.

Budair, M.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A survey of the role of thermodynamic stability in viscous flow

The stability of near-equilibrium states has been studied as a branch of the general field of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. By treating steady viscous flow as an open thermodynamic system, nonequilibrium principles such as the condition of minimum entropy-production rate for steady, near-equilibrium processes can be used to generate flow distributions from variational analyses. Examples considered in this paper are steady heat conduction, channel flow, and unconstrained three-dimensional flow. The entropy-production-rate condition has also been used for hydrodynamic stability criteria, and calculations of the stability of a laminar wall jet support this interpretation.

Horne, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

An experimental study of airfoil-spoiler aerodynamics

The steady/unsteady flow field generated by a typical two dimensional airfoil with a statically deflected flap type spoiler was investigated. Subsonic wind tunnel tests were made over a range of parameters: spoiler deflection, angle of attack, and two Reynolds numbers; and comprehensive measurements of the mean and fluctuating surface pressures, velocities in the boundary layer, and velocities in the wake. Schlieren flow visualization of the near wake structure was performed. The mean lift, moment, and surface pressure characteristics are in agreement with previous investigations of spoiler aerodynamics. At large spoiler deflections, boundary layer character affects the static pressure distribution in the spoiler hingeline region; and, the wake mean velocity fields reveals a closed region of reversed flow aft of the spoiler. It is shown that the unsteady flow field characteristics are as follows: (1) the unsteady nature of the wake is characterized by vortex shedding; (2) the character of the vortex shedding changes with spoiler deflection; (3) the vortex shedding characteristics are in agreement with other bluff body investigations; and (4) the vortex shedding frequency component of the fluctuating surface pressure field is of appreciable magnitude at large spoiler deflections. The flow past an airfoil with deflected spoiler is a particular problem in bluff body aerodynamics is considered.

Mclachlan, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A study of the unsteady flow field of an airfoil with deflected spoiler

The flow field generated by a two-dimensional airfoil with a statically deflected flap type spoiler has been experimentally studied. Subsonic tests ascertained the effect of varying spoiler deflection and angle of attack on the flow field at two Reynolds numbers. Measurements of the mean and fluctuating surface pressures and velocities in the wake, along with schlieren flow visualization of the near wake, were made. The results pertaining to the unsteady characteristics of the spoiler flow field are presented. It is shown that vortex shedding characterized the spoiler wake and determines the unsteady nature of the overall flow field; the character of the vortex shedding changes with spoiler deflection; and the fluctuating surface pressure field (vortex shedding frequency component) is of appreciable magnitude at large spoiler deflections.

Mclachlan, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Flow measurements of an airfoil with deflected spoiler

Spoilers are used as an effective control surface in various stages of flight. The steady and unsteady flow characteristics change with incidence and spoiler angle. An experimental investigation is undertaken to understand the flow phenomena. Typical boundary layer and wake profiles at various incidences and spoiler angles are presented and discussed. A laminar separation is observed at low incidence and high spoiler angle. At incidence, a turbulent boundary layer develops and separation point moves downstream. Generally the wake profiles are asymmetric. When different length scales are used, the profiles become self-similar and symmetric. The importance of laser velocimetry in the reverse flow region is demonstrated by comparing the preliminary LDV measurements with the hot-wire results.

Lee, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1982

On the structure of an underexpanded rectangular jet

An underexpanded jet of air issuing from a converging rectangular nozzle of moderate aspect ratio was investigated. Schileren pictures of the flow field along with hot-wire measurements in the jet were obtained at different pressure ratios. At the pressure ratio corresponding to the maximum screeching sound, Schlieren photographs show a very strong organized cylindrical wave pattern on either side of the jet, with their respective sources being located at the end of the third shock cell. Associated with this wave pattern is a large increase in the angle of spread of the jet. It is shown that the self excitation helps to induce large-scale vortical motions in the jet both in the plane containing the small dimension of the nozzle and in the plane containing the long dimension of the nozzle. However, the locations of these structures are different in the two planes. Nevertheless, the characteristic Strouhal number corresponding to these large-scale structures in both planes is the same and equal to 0.12. The influence of the self excitation on the mean velocities and rms intensities was also investigated. For the full range of pressure ratios studied, similarity was found in the mean velocity and rms intensity profiles in the two central planes beyond 80 widths downstream of the nozzle exit. However, the shapes of the similarity profiles are different in the two planes.

Krothapalli, A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Aerodynamics of an airfoil with a jet issuing from its surface

A simple, two dimensional, incompressible and inviscid model for the problem posed by a two dimensional wing with a jet issuing from its lower surface is considered and a parametric analysis is carried out to observe how the aerodynamic characteristics depend on the different parameters. The mathematical problem constitutes a boundary value problem where the position of part of the boundary is not known a priori. A nonlinear optimization approach was used to solve the problem, and the analysis reveals interesting characteristics that may help to better understand the physics involved in more complex situations in connection with high lift systems.

Tavella, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

An experiment on the flow past a finite circular cylinder at high subcritical and supercritical Reynolds numbers

The complicated flow in the tip region of a finite circular cylinder in uniform cross flow has been examined at the Reynolds numbers 85,000, 180,000, and 770,000. Simultaneous measurements of the surface-pressure and wake-velocity fluctuations have revealed the existence of a shedding regime in the tip region that is distinct from the one prevailing on the main body of the cylinder. In particular, this regime can be unstable and intermittent, can have a cellular structure in the wake, or can be subcritical when the main flow is supercritical.

Ayoub, A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The annoyance of impulsive helicopter noise

A total of 96 impulsive and non-impulsive sounds were rated for annoyance by 10 subjects. The signals had the same amplitude spectrum with a maximum frequency of 4.75 kHz. By changing the phase of the spectral components different levels of impulsivity were obtained. The signals had coefficients of impulsivity of 10,8, 7,9, and -0.2 respectively. Further, signals had intensity levels 89 and 95 dBA, pulse repetition rates 10 and 20 Hz, and half the signals had pink noise added at a level 12 dBA lower than the level of the sound. The significant results were: The four females and six male subjects rated the impulsive sounds respectively 3.7 dB less annoying and 2.6 dB more annoying than the non-impulsive sounds. Overall, impulsivity had no effect. The hish pulse repetition rate increased annoyance by 2.2 dB. Addition of pink noise increased annoyance of the non-impulsive sounds 1.2 dB, but decreased the annoyance of the impulsive sounds 0.5 dB.

Karamcheti, K.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A survey of the acoustical field of a rectangular wall jet

The acoustic field of a rectangular wall jet was surveyed for Reynolds numbers between 2000 and 9200. The study includes measurements of amplitude directivity, acoustic power spectra, and flow visualization. The effects of jet speed, wall length and trailing edge angle were examined. The flow visualization survey suggests an important role of discrete vortex convection in wall tone generation.

Horne, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

On the mixing of a rectangular jet

Hot-wire measurements in an incompressible rectangular jet, issuing into a quiet environment at ambient conditions, are presented. A blow-down-type air supply system was used to provide the airflow to a cylindrical settling chamber 1.75 m in length and 0.6 m in diameter. The measurements were made with constant-temperature anemometers in conjunction with linearizers. The two signals from the linearizers were sent through a sum and difference unit which was calibrated from dc to 100 kHz. The distributions of mean velocity and the turbulence shear stresses were measured in the two central planes of the jet stations up to 115 widths downstream of the nozzle exit. Three distinct regions characterized the jet flow field: a potential core origin, a two-dimensional-type region, and an axisymmetric type region. The onset of the second region appeared to be at a location where the shear layers separated by the short dimension of the nozzle meet; and the third region occurred at a downstream location where the two shear layers from the short edges of the nozzle meet. In the central plane, similarity was found both in the mean velocity and shear stress profiles beyond 30 widths downstream of the nozzle exit; profiles of rms velocity showed similarity in the second, but not the third region.

Krothapalli, A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Some observations of surface pressures and the near wake of a blunt trailing edge airfoil

Experiments with a truncated and untruncated airfoils of profiles NACA 640A10, were carried out in subsonic wind tunnels in a velocity range of 19m/s to 54m/s corresponding to Reynolds numbers of 200,000 to 468,000 based on the chord. Airfoil spanned the test section to achieve two dimensionality of the model. Velocity measurements, pressure measurements, and vortex shedding in the wake were measured using a hotwire and pressure transducers. The measured chordwise static pressure distribution on the smooth trailing edge airfoil along the midspan plane, agreed with the theoretical results calculated on the basis of the potential flow for that airfoil. Boundary layer profiles measured in the midspan plane, behind the maximum thickness of the airfoil show no separation of the flow. Spanwise distribution of the measured static pressure on the upper surface of the airfoil shows uniformity for both configurations with and without the boundary layer trip. This uniformity of pressure distribution and separation indicates that the flow on the airfoil was uniform and two dimensional in character.

Digumarthi, R. V.↗

NASA NTRS1981

An experimental investigation of the flow past a finite circular cylinder at a low subcritical Reynolds number

Results of hot wire measurements made in the near wake at a Reynolds number of 9955 are reported. The measurements include the mean velocity profiles, root mean square values of the velocity fluctuations, frequency spectra, and velocity cross correlations. The mean velocity profiles were used to determine the wake width, whose variation in the downstream and spanwise directions was examined. It is observed that close to the cylinder, the wake is narrower toward the free end than it is away from it, while further downstream the wake is wider toward the tip than it is away from it. It is found that the flow over the span can be characterized by four regions: a tip region where vortex shedding occurs at a lower frequency than that prevalent for away from the tip; an intermediate region adjacent to the first one where a frequency component of a nonshedding character is present; a third region characterized by a gradually increasing shedding frequency with increasing distance from the tip; and a two dimensional region where the shedding frequency is constant.

Budair, M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Partially confined multiple jet mixing

Results of hot-wire measurements in an incompressible partially confined jet issuing from an array of rectangular nozzles, equally spaced with their small dimensions aligned are presented. The quantities measured include mean velocity and the Reynolds stress in the two central planes of the jet at stations covering up to 115 widths (small dimension of a nozzle) downstream of the nozzle exit. For downstream distances greater than 60 widths, the flowfield is observed to be nearly homogenous and the turbulence appears to be quite similar to that of a grid generated turbulence.

Krothapalli, A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Acoustic resonances and sound scattering by a shear layer

The reflection and transmission characteristics of plane waves scattered by a finite-thickness shear layer having a linear velocity profile and bounded by two otherwise uniform parallel flows is examined using the pressure perturbation equation solutions in the shear layer shown previously to be in terms of Whittaker M functions. In addition to the angle of plane wave incidence and the relative Mach number of the flows bounding the shear layer, it is found that the scattering properties of the shear layer depend crucially upon a parameter tau in such a manner that the case tau approaching zero characterizes the long wavelength properties of the layer and the case tau approaching infinity characterizes the short wavelength properties of the layer. In contrast to the region of ordinary reflection in the cases where the corresponding vortex sheet does not have a Brewster angle, the values of the reflection coefficient up to tau of 2 follow those of the vortex sheet; for the case for which the corresponding vortex sheet has a Brewster angle, the magnitude of the reflection coefficient may be sensitive to even small changes in tau in certain cases.

Koutsoyannis, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Calibration of the Ames Anechoic Facility. Phase 1: Short range plan

A calibration was made of the acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of a small, open-jet wind tunnel in an anechoic room. The jet nozzle was 102 mm diameter and was operated subsonically. The anechoic-room dimensions were 7.6 m by 5.5 m by 3.4 m high (wedge tip to wedge tip). Noise contours in the chamber were determined by various jet speeds and exhaust collector positions. The optimum nozzle/collector separation from an acoustic standpoint was 2.1 m. Jet velocity profiles and turbulence levels were measured using pressure probes and hot wires. The jet was found to be symmetric, with no unusual characteristics. The turbulence measurements were hampered by oil mist contamination of the airflow.

Hickey, D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Development and structure of a rectangular jet in a multiple jet configuration

Results of hot-wire measurements in an incompressible jet issuing from an array of rectangular lobes, equally spaced with their small dimensions in a line, are presented. The quantities measured include mean velocity and the Reynolds stress in the two central planes of the jet at stations covering up to 115 widths (small dimension of the lobe) downstream of the nozzle exit. Measurements are carried out on a single rectangular free jet and on the same jet in a multiple jet configuration. In the case of a multiple jet, the flowfield for downstream distance X greater than 60D (D = width of the lobe) resembles that of a jet exiting from a two-dimensional nozzle with its short dimension being the long dimension of the lobe. The field of turbulence is found to be nearly isotropic in the plane containing the small dimension of the lobes for X greater than 60D.

Krothapalli, A.↗