Engineering topics

Rao, D. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Rao, D. M..

35 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1981

Wind-tunnel studies of advanced cargo aircraft concepts

Accomplishments in vortex flap research are summarized. A singular feature of the vortex flap is that, throughout the range of angle of attack range, the flow type remains qualitatively unchanged. Accordingly, no large or sudden change in the aerodynamic characteristics, as happens when forcibly maintained attached flow suddenly reverts to separation, will occur with the vortex flap. Typical wind tunnel test data are presented which show the drag reduction potential of the vortex flap concept applied to a supersonic cruise airplane configuration. The new technology offers a means of aerodynamically augmenting roll-control effectiveness on slender wings at higher angles of attack by manipulating the vortex flow generated from leading edge separation. The proposed manipulator takes the form of a flap hinged at or close to the leading edge, normally retracted flush with the wing upper surface to conform to the airfoil shape.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Subsonic pitch-up alleviation on a 74 deg delta wing

Fixed leading-edge devices were investigated for alleviating the low speed pitch-up and longitudinal instability of a 74 deg delta wing model. In wind-tunnel tests, Pylon Vortex Generators were shown to be highly effective, compared to leading-edge fences and slots, in raising the pitch-up angle of attack from 8 deg to 28 deg. The subsonic drag penalty was negligible.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Exploratory subsonic investigation of vortex-flap concept on arrow wing configuration

The drag reduction potential of a vortex flap concept, utilizing the thrust contribution of separation vortices maintained over leading edge flap surfaces, was explored in subsonic wind tunnel tests on a highly swept arrow wing configuration. Several flap geometries were tested in comparison with a previous study on the same model with leading edges drooped for attached flow. The most promising vortex flap arrangements produced drag reductions comparable with leading edge droop over a range of lift coefficients from 0.3 to 0.6 (untrimmed), and also indicated beneficial effects in the longitudinal and lateral static stability characteristics.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Hinged strakes for enhanced maneuverability at high angles of attack

A controllable-strake concept for alleviating the adverse effects of strake vortex breakdown and asymmetry on the longitudinal and lateral aerodynamics of strake-wing configurations at high angles of attack is presented. The concept aims to control the strake load independently of angle of attack and sideslip by varying the anhedral angle of strakes hinged along the root chord. The strakes may be deflected in a symmetrical or nonsymmetrical mode for a variety of control functions. Results are presented of an exploratory wind-tunnel investigation to evaluate the potential of the hinged-strake concept for enhancing the three-axis controllability in post-stall flight.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Aerodynamic side-force alleviator means

An apparatus for alleviating high angle of attack side force on slender pointed cylindrical forebodies such as fighter aircraft, missiles and the like is described. A symmetrical pair of helical separation trips was employed to disrupt the leeside vortices normally attained. The symmetrical pair of trips starts at either a common point or at space points on the upper surface of the forebody and extends along separate helical paths along the circumference of the forebody.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Leading-edge 'Vortex Flaps' for enhanced subsonic aerodynamics of slender wings

The 'Vortex Flap' is a novel concept aimed at reducing the lift-dependent drag due to leading-edge flow separation on highly swept, slender wings at high angles of attack. The suction effect of coiled vortices generated via controlled separation over leading-edge flap surfaces is utilized to produce an aerodynamic thrust component. This principle was verified through wind-tunnel experiments on 74-deg and 60-deg delta wings and a supersonic-cruise slender wing aircraft configuration. Adaptation of the vortex-flap for augmentation of roll-control on the 74-deg delta at high angles of attack also was demonstrated. Selected results are presented in this paper to indicate the potential of the vortex flap concept to enhance the low-speed performance, stability and control of slender wing aircraft.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Leading edge vortex-flap experiments on a 74 deg delta wing

Exploratory wind tunnel tests are reported on a 74 deg. delta wing model. The potential of a vortex flap concept in reducing the subsonic lift dependent drag of highly swept, slender wings is examined. The suction effect of coiled vortices generated through controlled separation over leading edge flap surfaces to produce a thrust component is discussed. A series of vortex-flap configurations were investigated to explore the effect of some primary geometric variables.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Wind tunnel tests on a tail-less swept wing span-distributed cargo aircraft configuration

The configuration consisted of a 30 deg -swept, untapered, untwisted wing utilizing a low-moment cambered airfoil of 20 percent streamwise thickness designed for low wave drag at M = 0.6, C sub L = 0.4. The tests covered a range of Mach numbers 0.3 to 0.725 and chord Reynolds number 1,100,000 to 2,040,000, angles of attack up to model buffet and sideslip angles + or - 4 deg. Configuration build up, wing pod filleting, airfoil modification and trailing edge control deflection effects were briefly investigated. Three wing tip vertical tail designs were also tested. Wing body filleting and a simple airfoil modification both produced increments to maximum lift/drag ratio. Addition of pods eliminated pitch instability of the basic wing. While the magnitude of these benefits probably was Reynolds number sensitive, they underline the potential for improving the aerodynamics of the present configuration. The cruise parameter (product of Mach number and lift/drag ratio) attained a maximum close to the airfoil design point. The configuration was found to be positively stable with normal control effectiveness about all three axes in the Mach number and C sub L range of interest.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Side-force alleviation on slender, pointed forebodies at high angles of attack

A new device was proposed for alleviating high angle-of-attack side force on slender, pointed forebodies. A symmetrical pair of separation strips in the form of helical ridges are applied to the forebody to disrupt the primary lee-side vortices and thereby avoid the instability that produces vortex asymmetry. Preliminary wind tunnel tests at Mach 0.3 and Reynolds no. 5,250,000 on a variety of forebody configurations and on a wing-body combination at angles of attack up to 56 degrees, demonstrated the effectiveness of the device.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Time-dependent measurement of base pressure in a blowdown tunnel with varying unit Reynolds number

An operational characteristic of blowdown-type of wind tunnels is the drop in the stagnation temperature with time and the accompanying change in the test-section unit Reynolds number at constant stagnation pressure and Mach number. This apparent disadvantage can be turned to advantage in some cases where a Reynolds number scan is desired in order to study the effect of unit Reynolds number variation on a particular viscous flow phenomenon. This note presents such an instance arising from recent investigations on base pressure at transonic speeds conducted in the NAL 1-ft tunnel.

Kangovi, S.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Side-force alleviation on slender, pointed forebodies at high angles of attack

A new approach of alleviating high angle-of-attack side force on slender, pointed forebodies comprising a symmetrical pair of helical separation trips to disrupt the lee-side vortices, has been demonstrated. Subsonic wind tunnel measurements on two axi-symmetric pointed bodies, a fuselage of non-circular cross-section and a wing-fuselage combination, at angles of attack up to 56 degrees are presented. Also included are water-tunnel flow visualization results portraying the action of helical trips in rapidly diffusing the leeward vortices and preventing vortex-wake asymmetry.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Application of radial-splitters for improved wide-angle diffuser performance in a blowdown tunnel

Severe flow separation in the 15:1 area-ratio, 38 deg total angle conical diffuser preceding the settling-chamber of an intermittent blowdown wind tunnel was eliminated by the use of a novel radial-splitter arrangement. As a consequence, the operating life of settling-chamber screens was greatly extended and test-section flow steadiness improved, with no penalty in the tunnel running time.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Wind Tunnel Design Studies and Technical Evaluation of Advanced Cargo Aircraft Concepts

In support of aerodynamic studies relating to the design and performance prediction of the National Transonic Facility, the following main tasks were accomplished: (1) estimation of aerodynamic losses of the tunnel circuits, (2) refinement of the high-speed diffuser loss prediction method utilizing experimental data generated for the purpose; (3) model studies of flow in the second-turn and measurements of the fan inlet distortion and overall pressure loss; (4) development of a shortened fan nacelle configuration of improved aerodynamic performance; and (5) evolution through model studies of an efficient rapid-diffuser system as the key to a circuit-modification proposal to reduce volume and minimize liquid-nitrogen consumption, at the same time saving on the shell cost.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Hypersonic incipient separation on delta wing with trailing-edge flap

The paper reviews the experimental data on the incipient separation characteristics of planar delta wings of 75 degree sharp leading edges, with full-span trailing edge flap deflected into the windward flow. The local Reynolds number range for these investigations covered laminar, transitional and turbulent conditions. It is shown that, while turbulent boundary layer data correlates with two dimensional results, in the laminar and transitional cases, there is a nearly parallel shift to higher flap angles for incipient separation.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Lee-side vortices on delta wings at hypersonic speeds.

A fluid-dynamic investigation was carried out to determine the cause of intense heating observed on the lee meridian of hypersonic delta wings and also to derive means for its suppression. Several experimental techniques were combined with analysis of extensive heat-transfer measurements at a freestream Mach number of six in a range of Reynolds number to acquire a general description of the lee-flow structure. With attached leading-edge flow on the delta wings, the dominant feature is a pair of embedded vortices on the lee meridian whose interaction with the boundary-layer is responsible for the observed local heating. On the basis of flow visualization results and heat-transfer correlations, a qualitative vortex flow model is proposed which differs essentially from the conventional inboard separation vortex model.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Lee-surface vortex effects over configurations in hypersonic flow.

The role of vortices in producing intense localized hea ting to the leeward regions of a variety of configurations is shown and discussed. From experimental results, flow-field models are proposed which account for the interaction of the vortex and the upper surface boundary layer; correlation of the heating is then possible for planar delta wings. Guidelines derived from these studies are offered which reduce the vortex-induced heating by appropriate shaping of configurations such as the space shuttle. Reynolds number is shown to exert a large influence on the magnitude and location of the induced heating.

Whitehead, A. H., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1971

An experimental study of the hypersonic aerodynamics of delta wings.

Results of aerodynamic balance and pressure measurements carried out in a hypersonic gun tunnel (at a free-stream Mach number of 8.2 and a Reynolds number of 800,000) on delta wings having sharp leading edges swept at 70 and 76 deg. The experimental force and pressure coefficients and shock angles are discussed in relation to simple prediction methods. Some transition data are also included.

Rao, D. M.↗