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Yates, Leslie A.

Publications and source records attributed to Yates, Leslie A..

26 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Development of an automated film-reading system for ballistic ranges

Software for an automated film-reading system that uses personal computers and digitized shadowgraphs is described. The software identifies pixels associated with fiducial-line and model images, and least-squares procedures are used to calculate the positions and orientations of the images. Automated position and orientation readings for sphere and cone models are compared to those obtained using a manual film reader. When facility calibration errors are removed from these readings, the accuracy of the automated readings is better than the pixel resolution, and it is equal to, or better than, the manual readings. The effects of film-reading and facility-calibration errors on calculated aerodynamic coefficients is discussed.

Yates, Leslie A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Topology of Flow Separation on Three-Dimensional Bodies

In recent years there has been extensive research on three-dimensional flow separation. There are two different approaches: the phenomenological approach and a mathematical approach using topology. These two approaches are reviewed briefly and the shortcomings of some of the past works are discussed. A comprehensive approach applicable to incompressible and compressible steady-state flows as well as incompressible unsteady flow is then presented. The approach is similar to earlier topological approaches to separation but is more complete and in some cases adds more emphasis to certain points than in the past. To assist in the classification of various types of flow, nomenclature is introduced to describe the skin-friction portraits on the surface. This method of classification is then demonstrated on several categories of flow to illustrate particular points as well as the diversity of flow separation. The categories include attached, two-dimensional separation and three different types of simple, three-dimensional primary separation, secondary separation, and compound separation. Hypothetical experiments are utilized to illustrate the topological terminology and its role in characterizing these flows. These hypothetical experiments use colored oil injected onto the surface at singular points in the skin-friction portrait. Actual flow-visualization information, if available, is used to corroborate the hypothetical examples.

Chapman, Gary T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Trim angle measurements in free-flight facilities

The aerodynamic cofficients and trim angle for an aerobrake at Mach 9.2 and 11.8 were found using a combination of experiment and computation. Free-flight tests were performed at NASA Ames Research Center's Hypervelocity Free-Flight Aerodynamic Facility, and the forebody pressure distribution was calculated using a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code with an effective specific heat ratio. Using the computed drag, lift, and moments to prescribe the number of terms in the aerodynamic coefficient expansions and to specify the values of the higher order terms, the experimental aerodynamic coefficients and trim angle were found using a six-degree-of-freedom, weighted, least-squares analysis. The experimental and computed aerodynamic coefficients and trim angles are in good agreement. The trim angle obtained from the free-flight tests, 14.7 deg, differs from the design trim angle, 17 deg, and from the Langley wind tunnel results, 12 deg in air and 17 deg in CF4. These differences are attributable to real-gas effects.

Yates, Leslie A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Streamlines, vorticity lines, and vortices

The properties of vortical flows are studied using both theoretical analysis and computational flow fields. The consequences of two definitions of the vortex core, a minimum in the streamline curvature and a maximum in the normalized helicity, are examined. Analysis indicates that several criteria must be met if the cores defined by these two methods are to coincide. In certain regions of the flow, computational flow fields indicate that these two definitions are coincident, that the velocity and vorticity fields are aligned at the core, and that extrema in the velocity magnitude, vorticity magnitude, pressure, and density occur at the core.

Yates, Leslie A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Holographic interferometry at the NASA-Ames Hypervelocity Free-Flight Aerodynamic Facility

A laser holographic interferometer has been designed and developed to improve flow visualization for models in free-flight at high velocities and low freestream static pressures. Of special interest is the flow structure due to high-temperature effects in the post-shock region of models traveling at hypervelocity. A dual-plate technique with a double-pass, Michelson-type configuration has been incorporated in an existing hypervelocity ballistic range. Holograms of 5-deg blunt conical models traveling at 5 km/sec in air at a freestream static pressure of 0.08 atm have been made. Finite- and infinite-fringe interferograms were reconstructed from the holograms and provided qualitative flowfield results. In addition, a digital scanning technique was also used to produce a 'synthetic' infinite-fringe interferogram from the analysis of an experimental finite-fringe interferogram. A 'synthetic' infinite-fringe interferogram shows detail in the wake region not found in the experimental interferograms.

Tam, Tim C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The determination of the topological structure of skin friction lines on a rectangular wing-body combination

A short tutorial in the application of topological ideas to the intepretation of oil flow patterns is presented. Topological concepts such as critical points, phase portraits, topological stability, and indexing are discussed. These concepts are used in an ordered procedure to construct phase portraits of skin friction lines with oil flow patterns for a wing-body combination and two angles of attack. The relationship between the skin friction phase portrait and planar cuts of the velocity field is also discussed.

Yates, Leslie A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A numerical investigation of crossflow separation on a three-caliber tangent ogive-cylinder

A parabolized Navier-Stokes code was used to calculate laminar crossflow separation on a simple body of revolution. Convergence lines were defined as lines on which skin-friction lines converge and were visually determined from the computed skin-friction patterns. These convergence lines were shown to be limit lines and not envelopes. Examination of crossflow cuts of streamtubes which encircled the body indicated that crossflow separation (defined by a fold in the streamtube) began after the onset of negative crossflow velocities but before a convergence line could be determined from the skin-friction patterns. There were no rapid changes or extrema in the pressure, skin-friction, vorticity, or flow-angle distributions that indicated where separation occurred. Instead, crossflow separation developed gradually and involved an extended region of the surface.

Yates, Leslie A.↗