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Stainback, P. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Stainback, P. C..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Dynamic flow quality measurements in the Langley Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel

The results of tests to measure the disturbance levels across the cooler, screens, and nozzle in the test section of the rehabilitated Langley Research Center Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel are reported and discussed. The velocity fluctuations measured upstream and downstream of the cooler were approximately equal and ranged from 5 to 15 percent. The attenuation of the measured velocity fluctuations across the screen agreed with predictions from Dryden's (1949) theory. Velocity fluctuations in the test section ranged from 0.025 percent at Mach 0.05 to 0.3 percent at Mach 0.2. Pressure fluctuations at the test section walls agreed with previous measurements made under a turbulent boundary. The autocorrelation functions indicated that there were large reductions in the integral scale of turbulence across the cooler and screens. The spectra measured upstream and downstream of the cooler were mostly broadband.

Stainback, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

An evaluation and assessment of flow quality in selected NASA wind tunnels

Tests have been conducted in a number of NASA wind tunnels to measure disturbance levels and spectra in their respective settling chambers, test sections, and diffusers to determine the sources of their disturbances. The present data supplements previous results in other NASA tunnels and adds to the ongoing acquisition of a disturbance level data base. The present results also serve to explain flow related sources which cause relatively large disturbance amplitudes at discrete frequencies. The installation of honeycomb, screens, and acoustic baffles in or upstream of the settling chamber can significantly reduce the disturbance levels.

Harvey, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Preliminary measurements of velocity, density and total temperature fluctuations in compressible subsonic flow

The heat transfer characteristics of a three-wire hot-wire probe operated with a constant temperature anemometer were investigated in the subsonic compressible flow regime. The sensitivity coefficients, with respect to velocity, density and total temperature, were measured and the results were used to calculate the velocity, density, and total temperature fluctuations in the test section of the Langley 0.3-m Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT). These results were extended to give estimates for fluctuations due to vorticity, sound, and entropy. In addition, attempts were made to determine the major source of disturbances in the 0.3-m TCT.

Stainback, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Flow quality measurements in transonic wind tunnels and planned calibration of the National Transonic Facility

The need for mean flow and dynamic flow quality measurements for the National Transonic Facility (NTF) was considered. Past experience in making flow quality measurements in transonic flows and at cryogenic temperatures was used to guide the selection of methods to be used in the NTF. It appears that suitable instrumentation will be available and adequate experience has been obtained to insure that the proper calibration of the NTF can be made.

Stainback, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Evaluation of flow quality in two large NASA wind tunnels at transonic speeds

Wind tunnel testing of low drag airfoils and basic transition studies at transonic speeds are designed to provide high quality aerodynamic data at high Reynolds numbers. This requires that the flow quality in facilities used for such research be excellent. To obtain a better understanding of the characteristics of facility disturbances and identification of their sources for possible facility modification, detailed flow quality measurements were made in two prospective NASA wind tunnels. Experimental results are presented of an extensive and systematic flow quality study of the settling chamber, test section, and diffuser in the Langley 8 foot transonic pressure tunnel and the Ames 12 foot pressure wind tunnel. Results indicate that the free stream velocity and pressure fluctuation levels in both facilities are low at subsonic speeds and are so high as to make it difficult to conduct meaningful boundary layer control and transition studies at transonic speeds.

Harvey, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Additional flow quality measurements in the Langley Research Center 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel

Additional tests were conducted to further define the disturbance characteristics of the Langley 8-Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel. Measurements were made in the settling chamber with hot wire probes and in the test section with pressure transducers when various methods were used to choke the flow. In addition to presenting rms values measured at various locations and tunnel condition, autocorrelations and cross correlation data are also presented.

Brooks, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Evaluation of flow quality in two NASA transonic wind tunnels

Tests have been conducted in the Langley Research Center 8-foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel and the Ames Research Center 12-foot pressure wind tunnel in order to measure characteristic disturbance levels and energy spectra in their respective settling chambers, test sections, and diffusers and to determine the sources of these disturbances. Results are presented and discussed along with some specific recommendations.

Owen, F. K.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A new technique for reducing test section noise in supersonic wind tunnels

A new technique is presented for obtaining a low-noise test environment in a high-speed wind tunnel. This technique utilizes the fact that the primary noise source for high supersonic/hypersonic wind tunnels is radiated noise from the turbulent, tunnel-wall boundary layer. Because of the high directionality of sound in supersonic flows this test section noise originates far upstream on the walls of the nozzle at the 'acoustic origin'. It is shown that tailoring the nozzle contour to reduce the acoustic origin Mach number significantly reduces the noise level in the upstream half of the nozzle test rhombus. Experimental noise measurements are presented from a conventional, Mach 5 nozzle and are compared with measurements from a rapid-expansion, Mach 5 nozzle.

Anders, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Correlation of freestream pressure disturbances in supersonic wind tunnels

An attempt is made to correlate data for freestream disturbance levels in terms of parameters that can be easily calculated for most wind tunnels. A correlation expression is derived assuming that the fluctuating pressure at the wall of the supersonic wind tunnel are related to fluctuating pressures in the freestream. The acoustic origins, flow properties, and geometric factors are taken into account. The suggested correlations of wind tunnel disturbances provide good predictions of rms pressure disturbances in the freestream of wind tunnels or on the surface of cones at Mach numbers greater than 2.5.

Stainback, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Fluctuating disturbances in a Mach 5 wind tunnel

An experimental investigation has been conducted to determine the source and nature of disturbances in the settling chamber and test section of a Mach 5 wind tunnel. Various changes in the air supply piping to the wind tunnel are shown to influence the disturbance levels in the settling chamber. These levels were reduced by the use of an acoustic muffler section in the settling chamber. Three nozzles were tested with the same settling chamber and hot-wire measurements indicated that the test section disturbances were entirely acoustic. Significant reductions in the test section noise levels were obtained with an electroplated nozzle utilizing boundary-layer removal upstream of the throat. The source of test section noise is shown to be different for laminar and turbulent nozzle-wall boundary layers.

Anders, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Effect of slot width on transition and noise attenuation of a sound shield panel for supersonic wind tunnels

The effect of slot width on transition and noise attenuation of a planar rod wall sound shield has been investigated at Mach 6. Boundary layer laminarization was obtained by induced suction through adjustable slots or gaps between the rods. Transition Reynolds numbers increased significantly with increasing gap width. The local mean flow field above the suction panel rod array was uniform. Important factors for design and performance of a supersonic wind-tunnel sound shield are rod diameter, gap-to-rod diameter ratio, surface finish of the rods, and leading-edge configuration.

Harvey, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effect of slot width on transition and noise attenuation of a flat sound shield in a Mach 6 wind tunnel

An experimental and theoretical study of a sound shield concept to attenuate the noise radiated into the test section from the turbulent boundary layer on the walls of wind tunnels was conducted. The model investigated was planar with a sharp flat plate leading edge faired into an array of rods aligned nearly parallel to the local flow. For a ratio of gap diameter to rod diameter of 0.16, the flow was laminar over the entire model at a maximum local length Reynolds number of 14 million. A 45% reduction in the tunnel free stream root mean square pressure level was measured within the shielded region for this gap width when the boundary layers on the rods were laminar. Smaller ratios of gap diameter to rod diameter resulted in substantial reductions in the transition Reynolds number, and in a 40% pressure reduction.

Stainback, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Design and preliminary test results at Mach 5 of an axisymmetric slotted sound shield

The basic theory and sound attenuation mechanisms, the design procedures, and preliminary experimental results are presented for a small axisymmetric sound shield for supersonic wind tunnels. The shield consists of an array of small diameter rods aligned nearly parallel to the entrance flow with small gaps between the rods for boundary layer suction. Results show that at the lowest test Reynolds number (based on rod diameter) of 52,000 the noise shield reduced the test section noise by about 60 percent ( or 8 db attenuation) but no attenuation was measured for the higher range of test reynolds numbers from 73,000 to 190,000. These results are below expectations based on data reported elsewhere on a flat sound shield model. The smaller attenuation from the present tests is attributed to insufficient suction at the gaps to prevent feedback of vacuum manifold noise into the shielded test flow and to insufficient suction to prevent transition of the rod boundary layers to turbulent flow at the higher Reynolds numbers. Schlieren photographs of the flow are shown.

Beckwith, I. E.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Sound and fluctuating disturbance measurements in the settling chamber and test section of a small, Mach 5 wind tunnel

Disturbance measurements were made using a hot-wire anemometer and piezoelectric pressure transducers in the settling chamber and free stream of a small Mach 5 wind tunnel. Results from the two instruments are compared and acoustical disturbances in the settling chamber are discussed. The source of the test-section noise is identified as nozzle-wall waviness at low Reynolds numbers and as eddy-Mach-wave radiation from the turbulent boundary layer on the nozzle wall at high Reynolds numbers.

Anders, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Experimental and theoretical investigation of a slotted noise shield model for wind tunnel walls

Tests at Mach 6 and 8 have been conducted on a model of a wind tunnel sound radiation shield which consists of interchangeable circular and wedge-shaped longitudinal rods with gaps between the rods for boundary layer removal. In view of the large effective sweep angle of the circular rods with respect to the local flow, the boundary layer behavior was surprisingly well represented by swept cylinder theory. Laminar flow was maintained up to a maximum local unit Reynolds number of 8 million per foot which would presumably be independent of model length for a given rod diameter by analogy with results on swept cylinders. Reduction in wind-tunnel sound levels within the shielded region of the circular rod model were about 90% of the maximum possible reduction for an ideal shield.

Harvey, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Experimental studies of hypersonic boundary-layer transition and effects of wind tunnel disturbances

Boundary layer transition data on cones and free stream disturbance levels were measured in a hypersonic wind tunnel and Mach 8 variable density hypersonic tunnel. Transition data were obtained by using different conical models and techniques for detecting the location of transition. The disturbance levels were measured by using hot wire anemometry and pressure transducers. The transition Reynolds numbers obtained from the tests correlated well when the fluctuating pressures measured at the surface of conical models were used as a correlating parameter.

Stainback, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Comparison of transition and freestream disturbance measurements obtained in two wind tunnel facilities

Boundary-layer transition measurements have been made on two 5-deg half-angle cones at Mach 7 in the Ames 3.5-foot and the Langley variable density wind tunnels. Although there were differences between the measured freestream disturbance scales and pressure fluctuation levels, the choice of consistent locations within the transition region, using either thin-film fluctuation or surface heat-transfer data results in excellent agreement between the transition Reynolds numbers in both facilities. However, there is an apparent connection between changes in freestream pressure fluctuation levels and movement of boundary-layer transition location in the two facilities.

Owen, F. K.↗