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At least 217 records · Page 12

High-Tip-Speed, Low-Loading Transonic Fan Stage. Part 1: Aerodynamic and Mechanical Design

A high-tip-speed, low-loading transonic fan stage was designed to deliver an overall pressure ratio of 1.5 with an adiabatic efficiency of 86 percent. The design flow per unit annulus area is 42.0 pounds per square foot. The fan features a hub/tip ratio of 0.46, a tip diameter of 28.74 in. and operates at a design tip speed of 1600 fps. For these design conditions, the rotor blade tip region operates with supersonic inlet and supersonic discharge relative velocities. A sophisticated quasi-three-dimensional characteristic section design procedure was used for the all-supersonic sections and the inlet of the midspan transonic sections. For regions where the relative outlet velocities are supersonic, the blade operates with weak oblique shocks only.

Wright, L. C.↗

Experimental investigation of model variable-geometry and ogee tip rotors

An experimental investigation was conducted to systematically explore the effects of inter-blade spatial relationships and pitch variations on rotor performance and wake geometry. Variable-geometry rotors consisting of various combinations of blade length, axial spacing, azimuth spacing, and collective pitch were tested at model scale in hover and forward flight. In addition, a hover test of a model rotor with an ogee blade tip design was conducted to determine its performance and wake characteristics. The results of this investigation indicate that properly selected variable geometry rotor configurations can offer substantial improvements in hover performance without adversely affecting forward flight performance. Axial spacing of alternate blades was found to provide the greatest performance benefit, and further improvements were achieved by combining azimuth spacing with axial spacing. The performance benefit appears to be related to the relief of local adverse aerodynamic phenomena produced by vortex interference. The ogee tip design was found to substantially reduce the concentrated core intensity of the tip vortex, and could thus prove beneficial for the relief of blade-vortex interaction problems. However, the ogee tip was found to reduce hover performance at model scale.

Landgrebe, A. J.↗

Some effects of tip fins on wing flutter characteristics

A wind tunnel investigation has been conducted over the Mach number range from about 0.6 to 1.2 to determine the effects of large tip fins on the flutter characteristics of a swept wing. The basic wing configuration had an aspect ratio of 0.95, leading-edge sweep of 40 deg 0, and trailing-edge sweep of 21 deg. Two of these configurations were modified with tip fins of 60 deg dihedral and had effective aspect ratios of 1.5 and 2.2. In general, the results indicate that the addition of tip fins reduces the flutter speed, with the larger fin having the greater effect. Comparison of the experimental flutter speeds at Mach numbers between 0.60 and 0.90 with calculated values obtained by using doublet-lattice unsteady aerodynamic theory was good. Analytical results where structural and aerodynamic effects of the tip fins were isolated indicated that the reduction in flutter speed produced by the addition of the fins was caused by both effects, with the structural effect being the more pronounced.

Goetz, R. C.↗

Limitations to the small scale yielding approximation for crack tip plasticity

Recent finite-element results by S. G. Larsson and A. J. Carlsson suggest a limited range of validity to the 'small scale yielding approximation,' whereby small crack tip plastic zones are correlated in terms of the elastic stress intensity factor. It is shown with the help of a model for plane strain yielding that their results may be explained by considering the non-singular stress, acting parallel to the crack at its tip, which accompanies the inverse square-root elastic singularity. Further implications of the non-singular stress term for crack tip deformations and fracturing are examined. It is suggested that its effect on crack tip parameters, such as the opening displacement and J-integral, is less pronounced than its effect on the yield zone size.

Rice, J. R.↗

Fatigue crack propagation and cyclic deformation at a crack tip

The fatigue crack propagation relation da/dN = f(R) Delta K squared can be derived with three assumptions: small-scale yielding, material homogeneity, and that crack tip stresses and strains are not strongly affected by plate thickness. The function f(R) is a constant at a given stress ratio, R. The effects of plate thickness and stress ratio on crack tip deformation and fatigue crack growth in 2024-T351 aluminum alloy were studied. High Delta K level in a thin specimen causes crack tip necking. Necking is more pronounced at high stress ratio. Necking causes high maximum strain near a crack tip and fast crack growth rate.

Kang, T. S.↗

A plane strain analysis of the blunted crack tip using small strain deformation plasticity theory

A deformation plasticity analysis of the tip region of a blunted crack in plane strain is presented. The power hardening material is incompressible both elastically and plastically, in order to simulate behavior of a stress freezing material above critical temperature. Stress and displacement fields surrounding the crack tip are presented. The results indicate that the maximum stress seen at the crack tip is indeed limited and is determined by the tensile properties; however, the scale over which the stresses act is dependent on the loading. Comparisons are good between the forward crack tip displacement and micro-fractographic measurments of stretch zones observed in plane strain fracture toughness tests.

Mcgowan, J. J.↗

Performance with and without inlet radial distortion of a transonic fan stage designed for reduced loading in the tip region

A transonic compressor stage designed for a reduced loading in the tip region of the rotor blades was tested with and without inlet radial distortion. The rotor was 50 cm in diameter and designed for an operating tip speed of 420 m/sec. Although the rotor blade loading in the tip region was reduced to provide additional operating range, analysis of the data indicates that the flow around the damper appears to be critical and limited the stable operating range of this stage. For all levels of tip and hub radial distortion, there was a large reduction in the rotor stall margin.

Schmidt, J. F.↗

Advanced optical blade tip clearance measurement system

An advanced electro-optical system was developed to measure single blade tip clearances and average blade tip clearances between a rotor and its gas path seal in an operating gas turbine engine. This system is applicable to fan, compressor, and turbine blade tip clearance measurement requirements, and the system probe is particularly suitable for operation in the extreme turbine environment. A study of optical properties of blade tips was conducted to establish measurement system application limitations. A series of laboratory tests was conducted to determine the measurement system's operational performance characteristics and to demonstrate system capability under simulated operating gas turbine environmental conditions. Operational and environmental performance test data are presented.

Ford, M. J.↗

Feasibility of wing shielding of the airplane interior from the shock noise generated by supersonic tip speed propellers

A high tip speed turboprop is being considered as a future energy conservative airplane. The high tip speed of the propeller, combined with the speed of the airplane, results in supersonic relative flow on the propeller tips. These supersonic blade sections could generate noise that is a cabin environment problem. The feasibility of using wing shielding to lessen the impact of this supersonic propeller noise was investigated. An analytical model is chosen which considers that shock waves are associated with the propeller tip flow and indicates how they would be prevented from impinging on the airplane fuselage. An example calculation is performed where a swept wing is used to shield the fuselage from significant portions of the propeller shock waves.

Dittmar, J. H.↗

Tone Noise of Three Supersonic Helical Tip Speed Propellers in a Wind Tunnel

Three supersonic helical tip speed propellers were tested in the NASA Lewis 8- by 6-foot wind tunnel. This is a perforated-wall wind tunnel but it does not have acoustic damping material on its walls. The propellers were tested at tunnel through flow Mach numbers of 0.6, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, and 0.85 with different rotational speeds and blade setting angles. The three propellers, which had approximately the same aerodynamic performance, incorporated different plan forms and different amounts of sweep and yielded different near field noise levels. The acoustically designed propeller had 45 deg of tip sweep and was significantly quieter at M = 0.8 cruise than the straight bladed propeller. The intermediate 30 deg tip sweep propeller, which was swept for aerodynamic purposes, exhibited noise that was between the other two propellers. Noise trends with varying helical tip Mach number and blade loading were also observed.

Dittmar, J. H.↗

An experimental investigation of the effect of rotor tip shape on helicopter blade-slap noise

The effect of tip-shape modification on blade-vortex interaction-induced helicopter blade-slap noise was investigated. The general rotor model system (GRMS) with a 3.148 m (10.33 ft) diameter, four-bladed fully articulated rotor was installed in the Langley V/STOL wind tunnel. The tunnel was operated in the open-throat configuration with treatment to improve the semi-anechoic characteristics of the test chamber. Based on previous investigation, four promising tips (ogee, sub-wing, 60 deg swept-tapered, and end-plate) were used along with a standard square tip as a baseline configuration. Aerodynamic and acoustical data concerning the relative applicability of the various tip configurations for blade-slap noise reduction are presented without analysis or discussion.

Hoad, D. R.↗

Tone noise of three supersonic helical tip speed propellers in a wind tunnel

Three eight bladed supersonic helical tip speed propellers were tested in the NASA Lewis Wind Tunnel at through flow Mach numbers of 0.6, 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, and 0.85. Such propellers are being considered as propulsors for a future energy conservative aircraft. The three propellers of equal performance, incorporate different plan forms and different amounts of sweep in order to investigate their noise generation, which could cause a cabin environment problem. The acoustically designed propeller SR-3 had 45 deg of tip sweep and was significantly quieter at Mach 0.8 cruise than the straight bladed propeller, SR-2. An intermediate 30 deg tip sweep propeller, SR-1m exhibited a noise level between the other two. Enhanced pressure-time traces indicated that SR-2 and SR-1m exhibited shock-like pressure traces at Mach-0.8 cruise while the SR-3 did not. Noise trends with varying helical tip Mach number and blade loading were also observed.

Dittmar, J. H.↗

Effect of tip shape on blade loading characteristics for a two-bladed rotor in hover

A laser velocimeter has been used to study the flow surrounding a 2.13-m-diameter, two-bladed, teetering model-scale helicopter rotor operating in the hover condition. The rotor system employed interchangeable blade tips over the outer 25% radius. A conventional rectangular planform and an experimental ogee tip shape were studied. The radial distribution of the blade circulation was obtained by measuring the velocity tangent to a closed rectangular contour around the airfoil section at a number of radial locations. A relationship between local circulation and bound vorticity is invoked to obtain the radial variations in the sectional lifting properties of the blade. The tip vortex-induced velocity was also measured immediately behind the generating blade and immediately before the encounter with the following blade. The mutual influences between blade loading, shed vorticity, and the structure of the encountered vortex are quantified by the results presented and are discussed comparatively for the rectangular and ogee planforms. The experimental loading for the rectangular tip is also compared with predictions of existing rotor analysis.

Ballard, J. D.↗

Effect of tip planform on blade loading characteristics for a two-bladed rotor in hover

A laser velocimeter was used to study the flow surrounding a 2.13 m diam. two-bladed, teetering model-scale helicopter rotor operating in the hover condition. The rotor system employed interchangeable blade tips over the outer 25% radius. A conventional rectangular planform and an experimental ogee tip shape were studied. The radial distribution of the blade circulation was obtained by measuring the velocity tangent to a closed rectangular contour around the airfoil section at a number of radial locations. A relationship between local circulation and bound vorticity was invoked to obtain the radial variations in the sectional lifting properties of the blade. The tip vortex-induced velocity was also measured immediately behind the generating blade and immediately before the encounter with the following blade. The mutual influence between blade loading, shed vorticity, and the structure of the encountered vortex are quantified by the results presented and are discussed comparatively for the rectangular and ogee planforms. The experimental loading for the rectangular tip is also compared with predictions of existing rotor analysis.

Ballard, J. D.↗

Laser-optical blade tip clearance measurement system

The need for blade tip clearance instrumentation has been intensified recently by advances in technology of gas turbine engines. A new laser-optical measurement system has been developed to measure single blade tip clearances and average blade tip clearances between a rotor and its gas path seal in rotating component rigs and complete engines. The system is applicable to fan, compressor and turbine blade tip clearance measurements. The engine mounted probe is particularly suitable for operation in the extreme turbine environment. The measurement system consists of an optical subsystem, an electronic subsystem and a computing and graphic terminal. Bench tests and environmental tests were conducted to confirm operation at temperatures, pressures, and vibration levels typically encountered in an operating gas turbine engine.

Barranger, J. P.↗

The propeller tip vortex. A possible contributor to aircraft cabin noise

Although the assumption is generally made that cabin noise levels are governed by the transmission of propeller generated noise through the fuselage sidewall, it was postulated that the propeller wake striking the wing, in particular pressure disturbances generated downstream of the propeller by the action of the propeller tip vortex, could be strong enough to excite the aircraft structure and contribute to the cabin noise level. Tests conducted to measure the strength of the propeller tip vortex support this hypothesis. It was found that the propeller tip vortex can produce a fluctuation pressure on a simulated wing surface in the wake of a propeller that exceeds by more than 15 dB the maximum direct noise that would strike the fuselage. Wing surface response to propeller tip vortex induced excitations, and the effectiveness of this response in radiating noise to the cabin interior, must be established to assess the full significance of these results.

Miller, B. A.↗

Tip geometry effects on the model helicopter rotor low frequency broadband noise

The effect of rotor blade tip shapes and performance parameters on the low frequency broadband noise (LFBN) is investigated experimentally. The experimental results show 2 to 5 dB reductions for swept geometries compared with square tip blades at constant blade loading. A theoretical model is formulated which includes a detailed lift response function. For the square tip blades, theoretical results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. While the effects of advance ratio and tip speed on the LFBN are explicable, those of blade loading are not clearly understood.

Humbad, N. G.↗

Optical tip clearance sensor for aircraft engine controls

Aircraft gas turbine performance and efficiency are related to airfoil tip clearance. The possibility has been considered to obtain optimum performance and efficiency by reducing clearance to a safe minimum with the aid of a closed-loop tip clearance control system, which utilizes a tip clearance sensor. The use of optical sensing methods appears to represent a potential solution to the tip clearance measurement problem. Principles of sensor operation are discussed along with dimensional considerations and diffraction limitations. A description is presented of the study of the feasibility of a certain sensor, taking into account the test rig system, the optical components, and the mounting tube. Attention is also given to the operation of the feasibility-study sensor, performance estimations, the optical fiber bundle, light beam refraction, and aspects of aircraft engine implementation.

Poppel, G. L.↗