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Mcdevitt, J. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Mcdevitt, J. B..

Static and dynamic pressure measurements on a NACA 0012 airfoil in the Ames High Reynolds Number Facility

The supercritical flows at high subsonic speeds over a NACA 0012 airfoil were studied to acquire aerodynamic data suitable for evaluating numerical-flow codes. The measurements consisted primarily of static and dynamic pressures on the airfoil and test-channel walls. Shadowgraphs were also taken of the flow field near the airfoil. The tests were performed at free-stream Mach numbers from approximately 0.7 to 0.8, at angles of attack sufficient to include the onset of buffet, and at Reynolds numbers from 1 million to 14 million. A test action was designed specifically to obtain two-dimensional airfoil data with a minimum of wall interference effects. Boundary-layer suction panels were used to minimize sidewall interference effects. Flexible upper and lower walls allow test-channel area-ruling to nullify Mach number changes induced by the mass removal, to correct for longitudinal boundary-layer growth, and to provide contouring compatible with the streamlines of the model in free air.

Mcdevitt, J. B.

A new facility and technique for two-dimensional aerodynamic testing

The design and operational characteristics of a new test leg for the High Reynolds Number Facility at Ames Research Center are presented, and the unique features of a test section for obtaining two-dimensional airfoil data are reviewed. The new facility operates at unit Reynolds numbers ranging from 1,000,000/ft to 30,000,000/ft. Boundary-layer suction panels are used in the test section (16 in. wide by 24 in. high) to minimize side-wall interference effects. Flexible, easily adjustable upper and lower walls allow test-channel area-ruling so as to nullify Mach-number changes induced by mass removal, to correct for longitudinal boundary-layer growth, and to provide contouring compatible with the streamlines of the model in free air.

Mcdevitt, J. B.

Supercritical flow about a thick circular-arc airfoil

The supercritical flow about a biconvex circular-arc airfoil is being thoroughly documented at Ames Research Center in order to provide experimental test cases suitable for guiding and evaluating current and future computer codes. The effects of angle of attack, effects of leading and trailing-edge splitter plates, additional unsteady pressure fluctuation (buffeting) measurements and glow-field shadowgraphs, and application of an oil-film technique to display separated-wake streamlines were studied. Computed and measured pressure distributions for steady and unsteady flows, using a recent computer code representative of current methodology, are compared. It was found that the numerical solutions are often fundamentally incorrect in that only strong (shock-polar terminology) shocks are captured, whereas experimentally, both strong and weak shock waves appear.

Mcdevitt, J. B.

An experimental and computational investigation of the flow field about a transonic airfoil in supercritical flow with turbulent boundary-layer separation

A combined experimental and computational research program for testing and guiding turbulence modeling within regions of separation induced by shock waves incident on turbulent boundary layers is described. Specifically, studies are made of the separated flow over the rear portion of an 18%-thick circular-arc airfoil at zero angle of attack in high Reynolds number supercritical flow. The measurements include distributions of surface static pressure and local skin friction. The instruments employed include high-frequency response pressure cells and a large array of surface hot-wire skin-friction gages. Computations at the experimental flow conditions are made using time-dependent solutions of ensemble-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, plus additional equations for the turbulence modeling.

Rubesin, M. W.

An experimental and computational investigation of the flow field about a transonic airfoil in supercritical flow with turbulent boundary-layer separation

A combined experimental and computational research program is described for testing and guiding turbulence modeling within regions of separation induced by shock waves incident in turbulent boundary layers. Specifically, studies are made of the separated flow the rear portion of an 18%-thick circular-arc airfoil at zero angle of attack in high Reynolds number supercritical flow. The measurements include distributions of surface static pressure and local skin friction. The instruments employed include highfrequency response pressure cells and a large array of surface hot-wire skin-friction gages. Computations at the experimental flow conditions are made using time-dependent solutions of ensemble-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, plus additional equations for the turbulence modeling.

Rubesin, M. W.

A design method for entrance sections of transonic wind tunnels with rectangular cross sections

A mathematical technique developed to design entrance sections for transonic or high-speed subsonic wind tunnels with rectangular cross sections is discribed. The transition from a circular cross-section setting chamber to a rectangular test section is accomplished smoothly so as not to introduce secondary flows (vortices or boundary-layer separation) into a uniform test stream. The results of static-pressure measurements in the transition region and of static and total-pressure surveys in the test section of a pilot model for a new facility at the Ames Research Center are presented.

Lionel, L.

Transonic flow about a thick circular-arc airfoil

An experimental and theoretical study of transonic flow over a thick airfoil, prompted by a need for adequately documented experiments that could provide rigorous verification of viscous flow simulation computer codes, is reported. Special attention is given to the shock-induced separation phenomenon in the turbulent regime. Measurements presented include surface pressures, streamline and flow separation patterns, and shadowgraphs. For a limited range of free-stream Mach numbers the airfoil flow field is found to be unsteady. Dynamic pressure measurements and high-speed shadowgraph movies were taken to investigate this phenomenon. Comparisons of experimentally determined and numerically simulated steady flows using a new viscous-turbulent code are also included. The comparisons show the importance of including an accurate turbulence model. When the shock-boundary layer interaction is weak the turbulence model employed appears adequate, but when the interaction is strong, and extensive regions of separation are present, the model is inadequate and needs further development.

Mcdevitt, J. B.

Simulation of turbulent transonic separated flow over an airfoil

A code developed for simulating high Reynolds number transonic flow fields of arbitrary configuration is described. This code, in conjunction with laboratory experiments, is used to devise and test turbulence transport models which may be suitable in the prediction of such flow fields, with particular emphasis on regions of flow separation. The solutions describe the flow field, including both the shock-induced and trailing-edge separation regions, in sufficient detail to provide the profile and friction drag.

Deiwert, G. S.

Effect of thermally expanding surfaces on aerodynamic roll torques for cones.

An experimental and analytical study has been made of the aerodynamic roll torque on smoothly ablating, spinning cones. The tests, conducted in the Ames 3.5-Foot Hypersonic Wind Tunnel, indicated that the smoothly ablating model rolling at 0 deg angle of attack experiences roll damping, but when rolling at angle of attack an aerodynamic torque in the direction of spin arises if thermal expansion of the body surface occurs. An analysis of the spinning body at angle of attack is included to show how the relative importance of the ablator thermal expansion and the surface recession rate determines whether the motion is damped or undamped.

Mcdevitt, J. B.