Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Spangler, S. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Spangler, S. B..

At least 19 records

Calculation of the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of upper-surface-blown wing-flap configurations

An investigation has been carried out to develop an engineering method for predicting the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of wing-flap configurations with upper surface blown (USB) high lift devices. Potential flow models of the lifting surfaces and the jet wakes are combined to calculate the induced interference of the engine wakes on the wing and flaps. The wing may have an arbitrary planform with camber and twist and multiple trailing edge flaps. The jet wake model has a rectangular cross section over its entire length and it is positioned such that the wake is tangent to the upper surfaces of the wing and flaps. Comparisons of measured and predicted pressure distributions, spanload distributions, and total lift and pitching-moment coefficients on swept and unswept USB configurations are presented for a wide range of thrust coefficients and flap deflection angles.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗

Calculation of the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of upper-surface-blown wing-flap configurations

An engineering method for predicting the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of wing-flap configurations with upper surface blowing (USB) was developed. Potential flow models were incorporated into the prediction method: a wing and flap lifting surface model and a jet wake model. The wing-flap model used a vortex-lattice to represent the wing and flaps. The wing had an arbitrary planform and camber and twist, and the flap system was made up of a Coanda flap and other flap segments of arbitrary size. The jet wake model consisted of a series of closely spaced rectangular vortex rings. The wake was positioned such that it was tangent to the upper surface of the wing and flap between the exhaust nozzle and the flap trailing edge. It was specified such that the mass, momentum, and spreading rates were similar to actual USB jet wakes. Comparisons of measured and predicted pressure distributions, span load distributions, and total lift and pitching-moment coefficients on swept and unswept USB configurations are included. A wide range of thrust coefficients and flap deflection angles were considered at angles of attack up to the onset of stall.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗

Theoretical study of hull-rotor aerodynamic interference on semibuoyant vehicles

Analytical methods are developed to predict the pressure distribution and overall loads on the hulls of airships which have close coupled, relatively large and/or high disk loading propulsors for attitude control, station keeping, and partial support of total weight as well as provision of thrust in cruise. The methods comprise a surface-singularity, potential-flow model for the hull and lifting surfaces (such as tails) and a rotor model which calculates the velocity induced by the rotor and its wake at points adjacent to the wake. Use of these two models provides an inviscid pressure distribution on the hull with rotor interference. A boundary layer separation prediction method is used to locate separation on the hull, and a wake pressure is imposed on the separated region for purposes of calculating hull loads. Results of calculations are shown to illustrate various cases of rotor-hull interference and comparisons with small scale data are made to evaluate the method.

Spangler, S. B.↗

Theoretical study of hull-rotor aerodynamic interference on semibuoyant vehicles

Theoretical methods are being developed to predict the mutual interference between rotor wakes and the hull for semibuoyant vehicles. The objective of the investigation is to predict the pressure distribution and overall loads on the hull in the presence of rotors whose locations, tilt angles, and disk loading are arbitrarily specified. The methods involve development of potential flow models for the hull alone in a nonuniform onset flow, a rotor wake which has the proper features to predict induced flow outside the wake, and a wake centerline specification technique which accounts for the reactions of the wake to a nonuniform crossflow. The flow models are used in sequence to solve for the mutual influence of the hull and rotor(s) on each other and the resulting loads. A flow separation model is included to estimate the influence of separation on hull loads at high sideslip angles. Only limited results have been obtained to date. These were obtained on a configuration which was tested in the Ames Research Center 7- by 10-Foot Low Speed Tunnel under Goodyear Aircraft Corporation sponsorship and indicate the nature of the interference pressure distribution on a configuration in hover.

Spangler, S. B.↗

A computer program to calculate the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of wing-flap configurations with externally blown flaps

A vortex lattice lifting-surface method is used to model the wing and multiple flaps. Each lifting surface may be of arbitrary planform having camber and twist, and the multiple-slotted trailing-edge flap system may consist of up to ten flaps with different spans and deflection angles. The engine wakes model consists of a series of closely spaced vortex rings with circular or elliptic cross sections. The rings are normal to a wake centerline which is free to move vertically and laterally to accommodate the local flow field beneath the wing and flaps. The two potential flow models are used in an iterative fashion to calculate the wing-flap loading distribution including the influence of the waves from up to two turbofan engines on the semispan. The method is limited to the condition where the flow and geometry of the configurations are symmetric about the vertical plane containing the wing root chord. The calculation procedure starts with arbitrarily positioned wake centerlines and the iterative calculation continues until the total configuration loading converges within a prescribed tolerance. Program results include total configuration forces and moments, individual lifting-surface load distributions, including pressure distributions, individual flap hinge moments, and flow field calculation at arbitrary field points.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗

Prediction of longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of STOL configurations with externally blown high lift devices

A theoretical method has been developed to predict the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of engine-wing-flap combinations with externally blown flaps (EBF) and upper surface blowing (USB) high lift devices. Potential flow models of the lifting surfaces and the jet wake are combined to calculate the induced interference of the engine wakes on the lifting surfaces. The engine wakes may be circular, elliptic, or rectangular cross-sectional jets, and the lifting surfaces are comprised of a wing with multiple-slotted trailing-edge flaps or a deflected trailing-edge Coanda surface. Results are presented showing comparisons of measured and predicted forces, pitching moments, span-load distributions, and flow fields.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗

Calculation of the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of wing-flap configurations with externally blown flaps

A theoretical investigation was carried out to extend and improve an existing method for predicting the longitudinal characteristics of wing flap configurations with externally blown flaps (EBF). Two potential flow models were incorporated into the prediction method: a wing and flap lifting-surface model and a turbofan engine wake model. The wing-flap model uses a vortex-lattice approach to represent the wing and flaps. The jet wake model consists of a series of closely spaced vortex rings normal to a centerline which may have vertical and lateral curvature to conform to the local flow field beneath the wing and flaps. Comparisons of measured and predicted pressure distributions, span load distributions on each lifting surface, and total lift and pitching moment coefficients on swept and unswept EBF configurations are included. A wide range of thrust coefficients and flap deflection angles is considered at angles of attack up to the onset of stall. Results indicate that overall lift and pitching-moment coefficients are predicted reasonably well over the entire range. The predicted detailed load distributions are qualitatively correct and show the peaked loads at the jet impingement points, but the widths and heights of the load peaks are not consistently predicted.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗

Calculation of static longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of STOL aircraft with upper surface blown flaps

An existing prediction method developed for EBF aircraft configurations was applied to USB configurations to determine its potential utility in predicting USB aerodynamic characteristics. An existing wing-flap vortex-lattice computer program was modified to handle multiple spanwise flap segments at different flap angles. A potential flow turbofan wake model developed for circular cross-section jets was used to model a rectangular cross-section jet wake by placing a number of circular jets side by side. The calculation procedure was evaluated by comparison of measured and predicted aerodynamic characteristics on a variety of USB configurations. The method is limited to the case where the flow and geometry of the configuration are symmetric about a vertical plane containing the wing root chord. Comparison of predicted and measured lift and pitching moment coefficients were made on swept wings with one and two engines per wing panel, various flap deflection angles, and a range of thrust coefficients. The results indicate satisfactory prediction of lift for flap deflections up to 55 and thrust coefficients less than 2. The applicability of the prediction procedure to USB configurations is evaluated, and specific recommendations for improvements are discussed.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗

Calculation of aerodynamic characteristics of STOL aircraft

Method predicts lift and pitching moment characteristics of STOL aircraft with externally-blown, jet-augmented wing-flap combinations using potential-flow approach which involves combination of two flow models. Method can accommodate multiple engines per wing panel and part-span flaps.

Dillenius, M. F. E.↗

Assessment of a wake vortex flight test program

A proposed flight test program to measure the characteristics of wake vortices behind a T-33 aircraft was investigated. A number of facets of the flight tests were examined to define the parameters to be measured, the anticipated vortex characteristics, the mutual interference between the probe aircraft and the wake, the response of certain instruments to be used in obtaining measurements, the effect of condensation on the wake vortices, and methods of data reduction. Recommendations made as a result of the investigation are presented.

Spangler, S. B.↗

Calculation of the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of STOL aircraft with externally-blown jet-augmented flaps

A theoretical investigation was made to develop methods for predicting the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of externally-blown, jet-augmented wing-flap combinations. A potential flow analysis was used to develop two models: a wing-flap lifting surface model and a high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine wake model. Use of these two models in sequence provides for calculation of the wing-flap load distribution including the influence of the engine wake. The method can accommodate multiple engines per wing panel and part-span flaps but is limited to the case where the flow and geometry of the configuration are symmetric about a vertical plane containing the wing root chord. Comparisons of predicted and measured lift and pitching moment on unswept and swept wings with one and two engines per panel and with various flap deflection angles indicate satisfactory prediction of lift and moment for flap deflections up to 30 to 40 degrees. At higher flap angles with and without power, the method begins to overpredict lift, due probably to the appearance of flow separation on the flaps.

Dillenius, M. F. E.↗

Calculation of aerodynamic characteristics of STOL aircraft with externally-blown jet-augmented flaps.

Analytical methods to predict the interference between lifting surfaces and high-bypass-ratio turbofan engines are described. A three-dimensional nonplanar vortex-lattice lifting surface method is used to predict the characteristics of a wing with leading-edge slat and multiple slotted trailing-edge flaps including effects of externally induced velocity fields. A flow model of the wake of a high-bypass-ratio turbofan is described which is capable of predicting the induced velocity field both inside and outside the jet wake. These methods are combined to predict the longitudinal characteristics of several STOL transport models utilizing externally-blown flaps and comparisons with data are shown. The results indicate good agreement between experiment and theory for various configurations under a wide range of power conditions.

Mendenhall, M. R.↗