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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Application of the shadowgraph flow visualization technique to a full-scale helicopter rotor in hover and forward flight

The wide-field shadowgraph flow visualization technique was used for the first time with a full-scale helicopter rotor. This was accomplished during testing of a Sikorsky S-76 main rotor in the NASA Ames National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel. Hover, low-speed forward flight, and descent operating conditions were studied. Preliminary results are very promising with rotor wake tip vortices visible up to an advance ratio of 0.25. In addition, many details of the rotor wake were visible, including tip vortex roll-up, inboard wake vorticity, and flow unsteadiness due to test section recirculation effects in hover. Shadowgraphs of blade/vortex interactions were also acquired. Simultaneous top and side view shadowgraphs of the rotor wake were acquired by a newly developed synchronized digital imaging system. The imaging system proved to be a highly successful tool which made real-time examination of selected regions of the rotor wake possible.

Swanson, Alexandra A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Wide-field shadowgraph flow visualization of tip vortices generated by a helicopter rotor

The vortex trajectory and vortex wake generated by helicopter rotors were visualized using a wide-field shadowgraph technique. Use of a retro-reflective Scotchlite screen made it possible to investigate the flow field generated by full-scale tail rotors. Tip vortex trajectories were visible in shadowgraphs for a range for tip Mach number of 0.38 - 0.60. The effect of the angle of attack was substantial. At an angle of attack greater than 8 degrees, the visibility of the vortex core was significant even at relatively low tip Mach numbers. The theoretical analysis of the visibility was carried out for a rotating blade. This analysis demonstrated that the visibility decreases with increasing dimensionless core radius (ro/c) and increases with increasing tip Mach number. Based on this investigation, it is concluded that the wide-field shadowgraph flow visualization technique should be feasible to study the flow field generated by a large main rotor in a wind tunnel and in an outdoor full-scale test stand. Of note is that the shadowgraph technique could easily be used with other on-going tests such as aerodynamic performance study, noise measurements, velocity measurements with LDV or hot-wire anemometer, local pressure measurement on the rotor surface, etc.

Parthasarathy, S. P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Flow visualization techniques in the Airborne Laser Laboratory program

A turret/fairing assembly for laser applications was designed and tested. Wind tunnel testing was conducted using flow visualization techniques. The techniques used have included the methods of tufting, encapsulated liquid crystals, oil flow, sublimation and schlieren and shadowgraph photography. The results were directly applied to the design of fairing shapes for minimum drag and reduced turret buffet. In addition, the results are of primary importance to the study of light propagation paths in the near flow field of the turret cavity. Results indicate that the flow in the vicinity of the turret is an important factor for consideration in the design of suitable turret/fairing or aero-optic assemblies.

Walterick, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Velocity selective flow visualization in a free supersonic nitrogen jet with the resonant Doppler velocimeter

The use of the resonant Doppler velocimeter for flow visualization in a free supersonic nitrogen jet is demonstrated experimentally. In the experiment reported here, room-temperature nitrogen at 12.7 psi expands through a Mach 3.4 converging diverging nozzle into a plenum chamber; small amount of sodium is injected through a heated needle centered 0.5-in. upstream of the nozzle throat. The beam of a single frequency dye laser is expanded into a sheet of light with a cylindrical beam expander and directed counter to the jet to spatially resolve any slice across the core of the flow. By tuning the laser to different frequencies, particular velocity and density fields can be highlighted.

Zimmermann, M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Preliminary experiments on surface flow visualization in the cryogenic wind tunnel by use of condensing or freezing gases

Cryogenic wind tunnel users must have available surface flow visualization techniques to satisfy a variety of needs. While the ideal from an aerodynamic stand would be non-intrusive, until an economical technique is developed there will be occasions when the user will be prepared to resort to an intrusive method. One such method is proposed, followed by preliminary evaluation experiments carried out in environments representative of the cryogenic nitrogen tunnel. The technique uses substances which are gases at normal temperature and pressure but liquid or solid at cryogenic temperatures. These are deposited on the model in localized regions, the patterns of the deposits and their subsequent melting or evaporation revealing details of the surface flow. The gases were chosen because of the likelihood that they will not permanently contaminate the model or tunnel. Twenty-four gases were identified as possibly suitable and four of these were tested from which it was concluded that surface flow direction can be shown by the method. Other flow details might also be detectable. The cryogenic wind tunnel used was insulated on the outside and did not show signs of contamination.

Goodyer, M. J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren and OH Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence Flow Visualization in a Dual-Mode Scramjet

Ahigh-speed self-aligned focusing schlieren (SAFS) system was used to visualize density gradients in and around the cavity flameholder of the combustor section of the University of Virginia Supersonic Combustion Facility (UVASCF). Images with this system were acquired at a framing rate of 110 kHz with no fuel injection, with fuel injection but no flame, and for fuel injection with combustion corresponding to a global equivalence ratio of 𝜙 = 0.18. Images with an air throttle in operation to modify the shock train location with fuel injection and with flame were also acquired. Simultaneous OH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) images were also acquired at a framing rate of 20 Hz. Results obtained with both visualization techniques are compared to one another to highlight how SAFS can complement more advanced flow visualization techniques and resolve dynamic behavior that may not otherwise be captured. Both proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) analysis techniques are applied to the SAFS image sequences to identify coherent periodic structures for the runs with fuel injection and combustion.

Brett F Bathel↗
NASA NTRS1980

Flow visualization study of spanwise blowing applied to the F-4 fighter aircraft configuration

Water tunnel studies were performed to define the changes that occur in vortex flow fields above the wing due to spanwise blowing over the inboard and outboard wing panels and over the trailing-edge flaps. Flow visualization photographs were obtained for angles of attack up to 30 deg and sideslip angles up to 10 deg. The sensitivity of the vortex flows to changes in flap deflection angle, nozzle position, and jet momentum coefficient was determined. Deflection of the leading edge flap delayed flow separation and the formation of the wing vortex to higher angles of attack. Spanwise blowing delayed the breakdown of the wing vortex to farther outboard and to higher angles of attack. Spanwise blowing over the trailing edge flap entrained flow downward, producing a lift increase over a wide range of angles of attack. The sweep angle of the windward wing was effectively reduced in sideslip. This decreased the stability of the wing vortex, and it burst farther inboard. Reduced wing sweep required a higher blowing rate to maintain a stable vortex. A vortex could be stabilized on the outboard wing panel when an outboard blowing nozzle was used. Blowing from both an inboard and an outboard nozzle was found to have a favorable interaction.

Lorincz, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Holographic flow visualization of time-varying shock waves

Rapid-double-exposure, diffuse-illumination holography is evaluated analytically and experimentally as a flow visualization method for time-varying shock waves. Conditions are determined that minimize the distance (localization error) between the surface or curve of interference-fringe localization and the shock surface. Treated specifically are the cases of shock waves in a transonic compressor rotor for which there is laser anemometer data for comparison and shock waves in a flutter cascade.

Decker, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Flow visualization study of grooved surface/surfactant/air sheet interaction

The effects of groove geometry, surfactants, and airflow rate have been ascertained by a flow-visualization study of grooved-surface models which addresses the possible conditions for skin friction-reduction in marine vehicles. It is found that the grooved surface geometry holds the injected bubble stream near the wall and, in some cases, results in a 'tube' of air which remains attached to the wall. It is noted that groove dimension and the use of surfactants can substantially affect the stability of this air tube; deeper grooves, surfactants with high contact angles, and angled air injection, are all found to increase the stability of the attached air tube, while convected disturbances and high shear increase interfacial instability.

Reed, Jason C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Flow visualization and numerical analysis of a coflowing jet - A three-dimensional approach

The instabilities of an acoustically excited coflowing jet are investigated by using a time series of cross-sections of large-scale structures present in the flow and by a fully three-dimensional numerical simulation via the vortex-element method. These structures are first revealed by a flow-visualization technique based on smoke seeding the inner jet flow and observing the flow cross-sections as the structures are convected past a stationary sheet of laser light. Usage of image-processing techniques along with computer graphics allows the full three-dimensional reconstruction of the structure. The general morphology of the flow is determined from the reconstructed views and shows that the vorticity is mainly concentrated into a single large-scale vortex ring. Hypotheses regarding the nature and origin of the longitudinal instabilities observed in the flow can be drawn from the reconstructed views, and are supported by the numerical simulations. Quantitative values such as the surface-to-volume ratio and the entrainment level are also obtained from the experimental data. The onset of streamwise vorticity and its distribution are derived from the numerical calculations as well. Three-dimensional views and a holographic display of a characteristic eddy are also presented.

Agui, Juan C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Flow visualization in long neck Helmholtz resonators with grazing flow

Both oscillating and steady flows were applied to a single plexiglass resonator cavity with colored dyes injected in both the orifice and grazing flow field to record the motion of the fluid. For oscillatory flow, the instantaneous dye streamlines were similar for both the short and long-neck orifices. The orifice flow blockage appears to be independent of orifice length for a fixed amplitude of flow oscillation and magnitude of the grazing flow. The steady flow dye studies showed that the acoustic and steady flow resistances do not necessarily correspond for long neck orifices.

Baumeister, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Flow visualization in long neck Helmholtz resonators with grazing flow

Both oscillating and steady flows were applied to a single plexiglass resonator cavity with colored dyes injected in both the orifice and grazing flow field to record the motion of the fluid. For oscillatory flow, the instantaneous dye streamlines were similar for both the short and long-neck orifices. The orifice flow blockage appears to be independent of orifice length for a fixed amplitude of flow oscillation and magnitude of the grazing flow. The steady flow dye studies showed that the acoustic and steady flow resistances do not necessarily correspond for long neck orifices.

Baumeister, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Flow Visualization, Heat Transfer, and Critical Heat Flux of Flow Boiling in Earth Gravity with Saturated Liquid-Vapor Mixture Inlet Conditions – In Preparation for Experiments Onboard the International Space Station

This study investigates flow boiling of n-Perfluorohexane with saturated two-phase mixture inlet in a rectangular channel of dimensions 114.6-mm heated length, 2.5-mm width, and 5 mm-height. The experiments were performed as part of the Mission Sequence Testing of the Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment’s (FBCE) Flow Boiling Module (FBM) in the vertical upflow configuration in Earth gravity using the same experimental system that was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in August 2021. The operating parameters varied are heating configuration (single- and double-sided), mass velocity (380 – 2400 kg/m2s), inlet quality (0.011 – 0.519), and inlet pressure (120 – 179 kPa). High-speed video photographs are presented to explain the two-phase flow patterns within the channel’s heated length. Flow patterns are constituted by low-density and high-density fronts moving along the channel, with the high-density fronts gradually reducing in length due to evaporation. Heat transfer results in terms of flow boiling curves, streamwise wall temperature profiles, streamwise heat transfer coefficient profiles, and average heat transfer coefficients are presented and trends discussed. CHF data from the present experiments are combined with prior databases to compile a consolidated FBCE-CHF database for saturated inlet to expand the ranges of operating conditions and include other flow orientations in Earth gravity. Experimental CHF trends are also discussed. The interfacial lift-off model shows a good CHF predictive accuracy evidenced by a mean absolute error of 11.97% for this consolidated database after constraining it to mass velocities greater than or equal to 500 kg/m2s. Finally, this study confirmed reliability of the upcoming ISS experiments for saturated inlet conditions and the collected Earth-gravity data will be compared to ISS microgravity data.

Flow boiling↗
NASA NTRS2001

Flow-Visualization Techniques Used at High Speed by Configuration Aerodynamics Wind-Tunnel-Test Team

This paper summarizes a variety of optically based flow-visualization techniques used for high-speed research by the Configuration Aerodynamics Wind-Tunnel Test Team of the High-Speed Research Program during its tenure. The work of other national experts is included for completeness. Details of each technique with applications and status in various national wind tunnels are given.

Lamar, John E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Combination of Kinematics with Flow Visualization to Compute Total Circulation

A method is described in which kinematics is exploited to compute the total circulation of a vortex from relatively simple flow visualization experiments. There are several advantages in the technique, including the newly acquired ability to calculate the changes in strength of a single vortex as it evolves. The main concepts and methodology are discussed in a general way for application to vortices which carry along with them definable regions of essentially irrotational fluid; however, the approach might be generalized to other flows which contain regions of concentrated vorticity. As an illustrative example, an application to the study of the transient changes in total circulation of individual vortex rings as they travel up a tube is described, taking into account the effect of the tube boundary. The accuracy of the method, assessed in part by a direct comparison with a laser Doppler measurement is felt to be well within experimental precision for vortex rings over a wide range of Reynolds numbers.

Brasseur, J. G↗
NASA NTRS1973

The construction and operation of a water tunnel in application to flow visualization studies of an oscillating airfoil

The water tunnel which was constructed at the NASA Ames Research Center is described along with the flow field adjacent to an oscillating airfoil. The design and operational procedures of the tunnel are described in detail. Hydrogen bubble and thymol blue techniques are used to visualize the flow field. Results of the flow visualizations are presented in a series of still pictures and a high speed movie. These results show that time stall is more complicated than simple shedding from the leading edge or the trailing edge, particularly at relatively low frequency oscillations comparable to those of a helicopter blade. Therefore, any successful theory for predicting the stall loads on the helicopter blades must treat an irregular separated region rather than a discrete vortex passing over each blade surface.

Olsen, J. H.↗