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Lowery, R. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Lowery, R. L..

Low-frequency pressure fluctuations in axisymmetric turbulent boundary layers

Measurements were made of wall pressure fluctuations under a turbulent boundary layer on the fuselage of a sailplane. Experiments with the sailplane offered a noise-free flow with a low free-stream turbulence level. In this environment the wall-pressure spectrum of a turbulent boundary layer with natural transition was found to drop off at low frequencies. Correlations between several wall-mounted microphones revealed that the large-scale motions contribute about 35% to the mean square pressure. Velocity fluctuations at several positions within and outside the boundary layer were measured and correlated with the wall pressure. It seems that the irrotational motions in the turbulent region are primarily responsible for the large-scale wall-pressure fluctuations. A time-lagged conditional correlation of the pressure was introduced to gain further insight into the pressure-producing motions.

Panton, R. L.

The nonlinear transient response of thin, rectangular elastic plates

The results of experiments and theoretical analysis of the nonlinear, transient response of thin, rectangular, elastic, simply supported plates are presented. In the experiments, a plane wave tube with a special pulse generator at one end and a thin glass plate mounted at the other end was used to subject the glass plate to pressure pulses of different magnitudes. Whole-field measurements of the response of the plate were obtained by the reflected moire grid technique. The largest ratio of center deflection to thickness of the plate during the experiments was 5.6. The theoretical response of the glass plate to the pressure pulses was computed by solving the von Karman equations governing large deflections in elastic plates by two methods - (1) the finite-difference method, and (2) Galerkin's method. Good agreement was found between theoretically predicted and experimentally measured response.

Rajagopal, G.

Nonlinear vibrations of rectangular plates.

A finite-difference method is developed to determine the large amplitude dynamic responses of thin elastic plates subjected to uniform pressure pulse-type loads. Four different sets of boundary conditions are considered. Some specific problems are solved. The results are compared with approximate solutions obtained by Yamaki (1961). The numerical method presented provides an accurate and efficient approximate solution to the problem, and should be useful as a check on other approximate methods. The grid-size and the time-step necessary for obtaining numerical stability depend on the particular problem. For many cases the method converges rapidly and a rather large grid-size and time-step is adequate.

Bayles, D. J.

A non-linear dynamic lumped-parameter model of a rectangular plate.

A lumped-parameter model of a rectangular plate is developed by assuming fundamental mode solutions and using Hamilton's Principle and the Euler equations to set up the differential equation of motion for the system. The plate theory used may be described as the dynamic analogue of the von Karman large-deflection theory. Four sets of symmetrical boundary conditions are considered with the restriction of uniform pressure dynamic loads. The model takes the form of a mass on a cubic-hardening spring with each term defined by algebraic expressions of the plate parameters. The results for some specific problems are compared with two previous solutions. This method is less accurate but simpler to develop and apply.

Bayles, D. J.

Establishing an upper bound for window response to the sonic boom.

Study of the failure of glass windows, which is probably the most severe problem confronting the SST program outside of the psychological and sociological aspects. The structural configuration most likely to suffer a window failure due to sonic boom excitation is one representable by a single large room, a single large window, and an open door. It is suggested that if the open door were replaced with another window the resultant stresses in both windows would be substantially reduced.

Seshadri, T. V.

Low frequency damping mechanisms in mechano-acoustical networks.

The response of a panel or window to the sonic boom and to other transient loads can often be found by deriving an equivalent lumped parameter model for the structure. The maximax response of such a mechano-acoustical system depends strongly upon the damping mechanisms of the components. This paper is concerned with finding realistic values for the lower bounds of the damping mechanisms in various mechano-acoustical systems. The results indicate that although part of the damping consists of radiation losses at openings, and radiation and viscous losses at narrow interconnecting hallways, the structural damping of the panel is of primary concern.

Seshadri, T. V.

A theoretical and flight test study of pressure fluctuations under a turbulent boundary layer. Part 2: Flight test study

The study of pressure fluctuations under a turbulent boundary layer was undertaken with the objective of extending previous work to lower frequencies. Wind tunnel and flight test measurements are invalid at low frequencies because of extraneous acoustic noises and free stream turbulence. A glider was instrumented and used as a test bed to carry microphones into a smooth flow free of acoustic noise. Hodgson had previously measured the spectrum of boundary layer noise on a glider wing. These tests showed a drop off at low frequencies that could not be reproduced in any other facility. The measurements were made on the forward fuselage of a glider where the boundary layer could develop naturally and have some length in a zero pressure gradient before the measurements were made. Two different sets of measurements were made.

Panton, R. L.