Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Angle of attack”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,801 records · Page 100
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Flow-Field Measurement of Device-Induced Embedded Streamwise Vortex on a Flat Plate

Detailed flow-field measurements were performed downstream of a single vortex generator (VG) using an advanced Stereo Digital Particle Image Velocimetry system. Thc passive flow-control devices examined consisted of a low-profile VG with a device height, h, approximately equal to 20 percent of the boundary-layer thickness, sigma, and a conventional VG with h is approximately sigma. Flow-field data were taken at twelve cross-flow planes downstream of the VG to document and quantify the evolution of embedded streamwise vortex. The effects of device angle of attack on vortex development downstream were compared between the low-profile VG and the conventional VG. Key parameters including vorticity, circulation, trajectory, and half-life radius - describing concentration, strength, path, and size, respectively--of the device-induced streamwise vortex were extracted from the flow-field data. The magnitude of maximum vorticity increases as angle of attack increases for the low-profile VG, but the trend is reversed for the conventional VG, probably due to flow stalling around the larger device at higher angles of attack. Peak vorticity and circulation for the low-profile VG decays exponentially and inversely proportional to the distance downstream from the device. The device-height normalized vortex trajectories for the low-profile VG, especially in the lateral direction, follow the general trends of the conventional VG. The experimental database was used to validate the predictive capability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD accurately predicts the vortex circulation and path; however, improvements are needed for predicting the vorticity strength and vortex size.

Yao, Chung-Sheng↗
NASA NTRS1982

Pressures Around an Inclined Ogive Cylinder with Laminar, Transitional, or Turbulent Separation

This paper reports results From comprehensive pressure tests on an ogive cylinder in the low-turbulence 12-ft pressure wind tunnel at Ames Research Center. The results consist of detailed pressure distributions over a wide range of Reynolds numbers (0.2 x 10(exp 6) to 4.0 x 10(exp 6)) and angles of attack (20 to 90 deg). Most important, the tests encompassed a complete coverage of different roll orientations. This variation of roll orientation is shown to be essential in order to fully define all the possible flow conditions. When the various roll-angle results are combined, it is possible to interpret correctly the effects of changing angle of attack or Reynolds number. Two basic mechanisms for producing asymmetric flow are identified. One mechanism operates in both the laminar and the fully turbulent separation regimes; this mechanism Is the one qualitatively described by the impulsive flow analogy. The other mechanism occurs only in the transitional separation regime. This asymmetric flow has the same form as that found in the two-dimensional cross flow on a circular cylinder in the transitional flow regime. Finally, these results make it possible to draw up critical Reynolds number boundaries between the laminar, transitional, and fully turbulent separation regimes throughout the angle-of-attack range from 20 to 90 deg.

Lamont, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

In-Flight Aerodynamic Measurements of an Iced Horizontal Tailplane

The effects of tailplane icing on aircraft dynamics and tailplane aerodynamics were investigated using, NASA's modified DHC-6 Twin Otter icing research aircraft. This flight program was a major element of the four-year NASA/FAA research program that also included icing wind tunnel testing, dry-air aerodynamic wind tunnel testing, and analytical code development. Flight tests were conducted to obtain aircraft dynamics and tailplane aerodynamics of the DHC-6 with four tailplane leading-edge configurations. These configurations included a clean (baseline) and three different artificial ice shapes. Quasi-steady and various dynamic flight maneuvers were performed over the full range of angles of attack and wing flap settings with each iced tailplane configuration. This paper presents results from the quasi-steady state flight conditions and describes the range of flow fields at the horizontal tailplane, the aeroperformance effect of various ice shapes on tailplane lift and elevator hinge moment, and suggests three paths that can lead toward ice-contaminated tailplane stall. It was found that wing, flap deflection was the most significant factor in driving the tailplane angle of attack toward alpha(tail stall). However, within a given flap setting, an increase in airspeed also drove the tailplane angle of attack toward alpha(tail stall). Moreover, increasing engine thrust setting also pushed the tailplane to critical performance limits, which resulted in premature tailplane stall.

Ratvasky, Thomas P.↗
NASA NTRS1947

Air-Stream Surveys in the Vicinity of the Tail of a 1/8.33-Scale Powered Model of the Republic XF-12 Airplane

The XF-12 airplane was designed by Republic Aviation Corporation to provide the Army Air Forces with a high performance, photo reconnaissance aircraft. A series of air-stream surveys were made n the vicinity of the empennage of a 1/8.33-scale powered model of the XF-12 airplane in the Langley 19-foot pressure tunnel. Surveys of the vortical-tail region were made through a range of yaw angles of plus or minus 20 degrees at a high and low angle of attack. The horizontal-tail surveys were made over a fairly wide range of angles of attack at zero degrees yaw. Several power and flap conditions were investigated. The results are presented in the form a dynamic pressure ratios, sidewash angles, and downwash angles plotted against vertical distance from the fuselage center line. The results of the investigation indicate that a vertical tail located in a conventional position would be in a field of flow where the dynamic pressure ratios at the horizontal tail to be increased; for equal lift coefficients, the effect of power or flap deflection on the direction of flow at any particular point in the region of the horizontal tail is small.

Foster, Gerald V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Investigation of vortex breakdown on a delta wing using Euler and Navier-Stokes equations

A numerical investigation of leading-edge vortex breakdown on a delta wing at high angles of attack is presented. The analysis has been restricted to low speed flows on a flat plate wing with sharp leading edges. Both Euler and Navier-Stokes (assuming fully laminar and fully turbulent flows) equations have been used in this study and the results are compared against experimental data. Predictions of vortex breakdown progression with angle of attack with both Euler and Navier-Stokes equations are shown to be consistent with the experimental data. However, the Navier-Stokes predictions show significant improvements in breakdown location at angles of attack where the vortex breakdown approaches the wing apex. The location of the primary vortex and the level of vorticity in the pre-breakdown regions in these flowfield solutions are affected very little by the viscous effects, even though the Navier-Stokes solutions exhibit viscous phenomena such as secondary and tertiary vortices which are not present in the Euler solutions. In the post-breakdown regions, however, the levels of vorticity in the primary vortex have increased differences between the Euler and Navier-Stokes solutions at comparable locations. Navier-Stokes indicates the presence of a secondary vortex even after the primary vortex is burst. The predicted trajectories of the primary vortex are in very good agreement with the test data, the laminar solutions providing the overall best comparison. The Euler shows a small displacement of the primary vortex, relative to experiment, due to the lack of secondary vortices. The turbulent Navier-Stokes, in general, fall between the Euler and laminar solutions. These findings are based on solutions from meshes that are not usually considered fine enough for resolving vortical flows. To further understand the vortex breakdown phenomenon and the fine details of the vortical flow structure, further calculations with the finer meshes and improved turbulence models are necessary.

S. Agrawal↗
NASA NTRS1981

Analytical techniques for the analysis of stall/spin flight test data

Analytical techniques for the analysis of stall/spin flight test data are reviewed by discussing (1) certain special flight instrumentation issues, (2) the mathematical modeling techniques, and (3) the analysis of post stall and spinning flight of general aviation airplanes. The angles of attack, sideslip, roll, pitch, and yaw are derived from measurements of angular velocity and linear acceleration. The key to the success of this approach is to simultaneously estimate both the biases in the instrumentation and the initial conditions. Techniques for determining stability derivatives from flight data are applied to angles of attack too high for stabilized flight. This practice greatly expands the range over which aerodynamic characteristics can be determined from flight test. Nonlinear terms in certain aerodynamic functions are shown to be valid by comparing them with the trends of results at different angles of attack. A very old technique of studying spins is extended and applied to some modern light airplanes. Airplanes for which the wing provides the dominant moments during spins, offer the possibility of linking spin characteristics to longitudinal data.

Taylor, L. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Aeropropulsive characteristics of twin single-expansion-ramp vectoring nozzles installed with forward-swept wings and canards

The Langley 16 foot transonic tunnel was used to determine the aeropropulsive characteristics of twin single-expansion-ramp vectoring nozzles installed in a wing-body configuration with forward-swept wings. The configuration was tested with and without fixed canards. The test conditions included free-stream Mach numbers of 0.60, 0.90, and 1.20. The model angle of attack ranged from -2 deg to 14 deg; the nozzle pressure ratio ranged from 1.0 (jet off) to 9.0. The Reynolds number based on the wing mean aerodynamic chord varied from 3.0 x 10 to the 6th power to 4.8 x 10 to the 6th power, depending on Mach number. Aerodynamic characteristics were analyzed to determine the effects of thrust vectoring and the canard effects on the wing-afterbody-nozzle and the wing-afterbody portions of the model. Thrust vectoring had no effect on the angle of attack for the onset of flow separation on the wing but resulted in reduced drag at angle-of-attack values above that required for wing flow separation. The canard was found to have little effect on the thrust-induced lift resulting from vectoring, since canard effects occurred primarily on the wing.

Mason, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Heat transfer measurements from a NACA 0012 airfoil in flight and in the NASA Lewis icing research tunnel

Local heat transfer coefficients from a smooth and roughened NACA 0012 airfoil were measured using a steady state heat flux method. Heat transfer measurements on the specially constructed 0.533 meter chord airfoil were made both in flight on the NASA Lewis Twin Otter Research Aircraft and in the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel (IRT). Roughness was obtained by the attachment of small, 2 mm diameter, hemispheres of uniform size to the airfoil surface in four distinct patterns. The flight data was taken for the smooth and roughened airfoil at various Reynolds numbers based on chord in the range of 1.24x10(exp 6) to 2.50x10(exp 6) and at various angles of attack up to 4 degrees. During these flight tests the free stream velocity turbulence intensity was found to be very low (less than 0.1 percent). The wind tunnel data was taken in the Reynolds number range of 1.20x10(exp 6) to 4.52x10(exp 6) and at angles of attack from -4 degrees to +8 degrees. The turbulence intensity in the IRT was 0.5 to 0.7 percent with the cloud making spray off. Results for both the flight and tunnel tests are presented as Frossling number based on chord versus position on the airfoil surface for various roughnesses and angle of attack. A table of power law curve fits of Nusselt number as a function of Reynolds number is also provided. The higher level of turbulence in the IRT versus flight had little effect on heat transfer for the lower Reynolds numbers but caused a moderate increase in heat transfer at the higher Reynolds numbers. Turning on the cloud making spray air in the IRT did not alter the heat transfer. Roughness generally increased the heat transfer by locally disturbing the boundary layer flow. Finally, the present data was not only compared with previous airfoil data where applicable, but also with leading edge cylinder and flat plate heat transfer values which are often used to estimate airfoil heat transfer in computer codes.

Poinsatte, Philip E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Simulation of real-gas effects on pressure distributions for a proposed Aeroassist Flight Experiment vehicle and comparison to prediction

Pressure distributions measured on a 60-deg elliptic cone, raked off at a 73-deg angle and having an ellipsoid nose (ellipticity equal to 2.0), are presented for a range of angle of attack from -10 to 15 deg. The high normal shock density ratio aspect of a real gas was simulated by testing in Mach-6 air (normal shock density ratio equal to 5.25) and Mach 6 CF4 (normal shock density ratio equal to 12.0). The effects of Reynolds number, angle of attack, and normal shock density ratio on these measurements are examined, and comparisons are made to an inviscid flowfield computer code known as HALIS. A significant effect of density ratio on pressure distributions on the cone section of the configuration was observed; the magnitude of this effect decreased with increased angle of attack. The effect of Reynolds number on pressures was negligible for forebody pressure distributions, but a measurable effect was noted on base pressures. In general, the HALIS code accurately predicted the measured pressure distributions in air and CF4.

Micol, John R.↗
NASA NTRS1989

An embedded grid formulation applied to delta wings

An embedded grid algorithm for the Euler and/or Navier-Stokes equations is developed and applied to delta wings at high angles of attack in low speed flow. The Navier-Stokes code is an implicit, finite volume algorithm, using flux difference splitting for the convective and pressure terms and central differencing for the viscous and heat transfer terms. Calculations are compared with detailed experimental results over an angle of attack range up to and beyond the maximum lift coefficient, corresponding to vortex breakdown at the trailing edge, for a delta wing nominally of unit aspect ratio. The results indicate that the overall flowfield, including surface pressures, surface streamlines, and vortex trajectories, can be simulated accurately with the global grid version of the present algorithm. However, comparison of computed velocities and vorticity with experimentally measured off-body values at an angle of attack of 20.5 deg indicates the core region is substantially more diffuse in the computations than that measured with either a five-hole probe or a laser velocimeter. Embedded grids, used to improve the numerical discretization in the core region, are formulated within the framework of the implicit, upwind-biased multi-grid algorithm. Structured levels of local nested refinements are made. Three-dimensional results for both Euler and Navier-Stokes calculations are shown, with up to 3 levels of embedded refinement. The embedding procedure was effective in eliminating a crossflow secondary separation produced in the Euler solutions on coarse grids.

Thomas, James L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Aero-assisted orbital plane change using an elliptic drag polar

A three-impulse, aero-assisted maneuver is used to change the plane of a circular orbit. The guidance law used during the atmospheric phase is based on the repetitive use of an approximate optimal control law. The approximations include Loh's term being constant, an exponential atmosphere, and a constant-coefficient drag polar. Whereas the true optimal trajectory is flown at maximum lift-to-drag ratio, simulation results for a parabolic drag polar show the angle of attack becoming large near the end of the trajectory. Here, the approximate optimal control rule is developed for an elliptic polar which has maximum lift coefficient and higher values of the drag coefficient at high values of the lift coefficient than the parabolic polar. Simulation results show that the angle of attack still increases to high values near the end of the trajectory and that, overall, the parabolic drag polar produces better results. Finally, it is shown that Loh's term is not constant over the ascent portion of the atmospheric turn and is the probable cause of high angles of attack. However, the guidance laws developed by assuming Loh's term to be constant work well.

Hull, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Wind-tunnel free-flight investigation of a supersonic persistence fighter

Wind-tunnel free-flight tests have been conducted in the Langley 30- by 60-Foot Wind Tunnel to examine the high-angle-of-attack stability and control characteristics and control law design of a supersonic persistence fighter (SSPF) at 1 g flight conditions. In addition to conventional control surfaces, the SSPF incorporated deflectable wingtips (tiperons) and pitch and yaw thrust vectoring. A direct eigenstructure assignment technique was used to design control laws to provide good flying characteristics well into the poststall angle-of-attack region. Free-flight tests indicated that it was possible to blend effectively conventional and unconventional control surfaces to achieve good flying characteristics well into the poststall angle-of-attack region.

Hahne, David E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Control integration concept for hypersonic cruise-turn maneuvers

Piloting difficulties associated with conducting aircraft maneuvers in hypersonic flight are caused in part by the nonintuitive nature of the aircraft response and the stringent constraints anticipated on allowable angle of attack and dynamic pressure variations. An approach is documented that provides precise, coordinated maneuver control during excursions from a hypersonic cruise flight path and the necessary flight condition constraints. The approach is to achieve specified guidance commands by resolving altitude and cross range errors into a load factor and bank angle command by using a coordinate transformation that acts as an interface between outer and inner loop flight controls. This interface, referred to as a 'resolver', applies constraints on angle of attack and dynamic pressure perturbations while prioritizing altitude regulation over cross range. An unpiloted test simulation, in which the resolver was used to drive inner loop flight controls, produced time histories of responses to guidance commands and atmospheric disturbances at Mach numbers of 6, 10, 15, and 20. Angle of attack and throttle perturbation constraints, combined with high speed flight effects and the desire to maintain constant dynamic pressure, significantly impact the maneuver envelope for a hypersonic vehicle.

Raney, David L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Wind-tunnel free-flight investigation of a model of a forward-swept-wing fighter configuration

A wind-tunnel free-flight investigation was conducted to study the dynamic stability characteristics of a model of a forward-swept-wing fighter-airplane configuration at high angles of attack. Various other wind-tunnel techniques employed in the study included static- and dynamic- (forced-oscillation) force tests, free-to-roll tests, and flow-visualization tests. A unique facet of the study was the extreme level of static pitch instability (in excess of negative 32-percent static margin) inherent in the airframe design which precluded free-flight testing without stability augmentation in pitch. Results are presented which emphasize the high-angle-of-attack aerodynamics and the vehicle-component contributions to these characteristics. The effects of these aerodynamic characteristics on the high-angle-of-attack flying qualities of the configuration are discussed in terms of results of the wind-tunnel free-flight tests.

Murri, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Aerothermodynamic measurements on a proposed assured crew return vehicle (ACRV) lifting-body configuration at Mach 6 and 10 in air

A 0.02-scale model of a lifting-body concept for possible application to the Assured Crew Return Vehicle from Space Station Freedom was tested at Mach 6 and 10 in air. Thermal mappings and surface streamline patterns were obtained at angles of attack ranging from 0 to 30 deg and unit Reynolds numbers Re from 2 to 8 x 10 to the 6th/ft. Areas that experienced the highest heating were near the model nose and tip-fin leading edges. The effect of Re on windward centerline heating coefficients was negligible, whereas increases in angles of attack produced increases in heating. At Mach 6 and the highest unit Re, turbulent heat at the windward centerline was three to four times the laminar level. Leeward crossflow separation and vortex reattachment along the centerline are evident across the Re and angle-of-attack ranges tested, indicative of a complex flowfield.

Horvath, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

A study of the vortex flow over 76/40-deg double-delta wing

A low-speed wind-tunnel study of the flow about a 76/40-deg double-delta wing is described for angles of attack ranging from -10 to 25 deg and Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 Million. The study was conducted to provide data for the purpose of understanding the vortical flow behavior and for validating Computational Fluid Dynamics methods. Flow visualization tests have provided insight into the effect of the angle of attack and Reynolds number of the vortex-dominated flow both on and off of the surface of the double-delta wing. Upper surface pressure recordings from pressure orifices and Pressure Sensitive Paint have provided data on the pressures induced by the vortices. Flowfield surveys were carried out at an angle of attack of 10 deg by using a thin 5-hole probe. Numerical solutions of the compressible thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations were conducted and compared to the experimental data.

Verhaagen, N. G.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Full-scale wind-tunnel tests of a small unpowered jet aircraft with a T-tail

The aerodynamic characteristics of a full scale executive type jet transport aircraft with a T-tail were investigated in a 40 x 80 ft (12.2 by 24.4 meter) wind tunnel (subsonic). Static, longitudinal, and lateral stability, and control characteristics were determined at angles of attack from -2 deg to +42 deg. The aircraft wing had 13 deg of sweep and an aspect ratio of 5.02. The aircraft was tested power off with various wing leading- and trailing-edge high lift devices. The basic configuration was tested with and without such components as engine nacelles, wing tip tanks, and empannage. Hinge-moment data were obtained and downwash angles in the horizontal-tail plane location were calculated. The data were obtained at Reynolds numbers of 4.1 million and 8.7 million based on mean aerodynamic chord. The model had static longitudinal stability through initial stall. Severe tail buffet occurred near the angle of attack for maximum lift. Above initial stall the aircraft had pronounced pitch-up, characteristic of T-tail configurations. A stable trim point was possible at angles of attack between 30 deg and 40 deg (depending on c.g. location and flap setting). Hinge-moment data showed no regions with adverse effects on stick force. Comparisons of wind-tunnel data and flight-test are presented.

Soderman, P. T.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

CFD and Experimental Data Comparisons for Conventional and AFC-Enabled CRM High-Lift Configurations

Numerical simulations have been performed for a simplified high-lift (SHL) version of the Common Research Model (CRM) configuration, where the Fowler flaps of a representative conventional high-lift (CRM-HL) configuration are replaced by a set of simple hinged flaps. These hinged flaps are equipped with integrated modular active flow control (AFC) cartridges on the suction surface of the flap shoulder, and the resulting geometry is known as the CRM-SHL-AFC configuration. The main objective is to make use of AFC devices on the CRM-SHL-Configuration to produce the aerodynamic performance (lift) comparable to that of the CRM-HL configuration over a large angle of attack range encompassing maximum lift conditions. For comparison purposes, computations are also per-formed for the CRM-HL configuration. In the current paper, PowerFLOWR©, a CFD code based on the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), is used to simulate the entire flow field associated with the CRM-SHL-AFC configuration equipped with a combination of two different types of AFC actuators. The transonic version of the PowerFLOWR© code that has been validated for high-speed flows is used to simulate the flow field generated by the high-momentum actuators required to mitigate reversed flow regions on the suction surfaces of the main wing and the flap. This study is focused on the AFC systems and actuator arrangements that had emerged based on the parametric studies conducted previously at the nominal landing condition. Comparisons of the numerical solutions for lift and surface pressures are presented here with the experimental data, demonstrating the usefulness of CFD for predicting the flow field and lift characteristics of AFC-enabled high-lift configurations over a broad angle of attack range. The numerical solutions predict the expected trends in aerodynamic forces with angle of attack variation.

Veer N Vatsa↗

Refine your search to explore more results.