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At least 217 records · Page 12

An experimental investigation of a supersonic vortical flow

Although much research has been done on subsonic vortical flow, the current understanding of these flows remains limited. The effect is characterized of adding swirl to a supersonic jet. The motive is to study the enhancement of supersonic mixing in order to provide more efficient fuel injectors for supersonic combustion (scramjet) engines. The vortical flow was created by tangential injection into a swirl chamber ahead of a converging and/or diverging nozzle. The amount of swirl was varied by changing the number of tangential injection holes and with the removal of the end piece, the jet could be run without swirl. Shadowgraphy, conventional schlieren, and focusing schlieren were used to obtain a qualitative understanding of the jet flow structure. It was determined that an increase in swirl produced an increase in the shear layer growth. Pressure and temperature probes were used to obtain more flow data. The probe data compared favorably with the theoretical calculations, except in the viscous core where viscous effects were not considered negligible. These results verified that a supersonic vortical flow was being created with a maximum helix angle of 33 degs.

Levey, Brian S.↗

Wall interference and boundary simulation in a transonic wind tunnel with a discretely slotted test section

A computational simulation of a transonic wind tunnel test section with longitudinally slotted walls is developed and described herein. The nonlinear slot model includes dynamic pressure effects and a plenum pressure constraint, and each slot is treated individually. The solution is performed using a finite-difference method that solves an extended transonic small disturbance equation. The walls serve as the outer boundary conditions in the relaxation technique, and an interaction procedure is used at the slotted walls. Measured boundary pressures are not required to establish the wall conditions but are currently used to assess the accuracy of the simulation. This method can also calculate a free-air solution as well as solutions that employ the classical homogeneous wall conditions. The simulation is used to examine two commercial transport aircraft models at a supercritical Mach number for zero-lift and cruise conditions. Good agreement between measured and calculated wall pressures is obtained for the model geometries and flow conditions examined herein. Some localized disagreement is noted, which is attributed to improper simulation of viscous effects in the slots.

Al-Saadi, Jassim A.↗

Design of a Mach-3 Nozzle for TBCC Testing in the NASA LaRC 8-ft High Temperature Tunnel

A new nozzle is being constructed for the NASA Langley Research Center 8-Foot High Temperature Tunnel. The axisymmetric nozzle was designed with a Mach-3 exit flow for testing Turbine-Based Combined-Cycle engines at a Mach number in the vicinity of the transition from turbojet to ramjet operation. The nozzle contour was designed using the NASA Langley IMOCND computer program which solves the potential equation using the classical method of characteristics. To include viscous effects, the design procedure iterated the MOC contour generation with CFD Navier-Stokes calculations, adjusting MOC input parameters until target nozzle-exit conditions were achieved in the Navier-Stokes calculations. The design process was complicated by a requirement to use the final 29.5 inches of an existing 54.5-inch exit-diameter Mach-5 nozzle contour. This was accomplished by generating a Mach-3 contour that matched the radius of the Mach-5 contour at the match point and using a 3rd order polynomial to create a smooth transition between the two contours. During the final evaluation of the design it was realized that the throat diameter is more than half that of the upstream mixing chamber. This led to the concern that large vortical structures generated in the mixer would persist downstream, affecting nozzle-exit flow. This concern was addressed by analyzing the results of three-dimensional, viscous, numerical simulations of the entire flowfield, from the exit of the facility combustor to the nozzle exit. An analysis of the solution indicated that large scale structures do not pass through the throat and that both the total temperature and species (CO2) are well mixed in the mixer, providing uniform flow to the nozzle and subsequently the test cabin.

Gaffney, Richard L., Jr.↗

Computation of viscous transonic flow over porous airfoils

The viscous effects on transonic flow past an airfoil which contains a shallow cavity beneath a porous surface are studied numerically. The porous region occupies a small portion of the total airfoil surface, and is located near the shock. Both an interactive boundary layer (IBL) algorithm and a thin-layer Navier-Stokes (TLNS) algorithm have been modified for use in studying the outer flow, whereas a stream-function formulation has been used to model the inner flow in the small cavity. The coupling procedure at the porous surface is based on Darcy's law and on the assumption of a constant total presusre in the cavity. In addition, a modified Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model is used to consider the transpired turbulent boundary layer in the TLNS approach, and the Cebeci-Smith turbulence model is used in the IBL approach. According to the present analysis, a porous surface can reduce the wave drag appreciably, but it can also increase viscous losses. As has been observed experimentally, the numerical results indicate that the total drag is reduced at higher Mach numbers and increased at lower Mach numbers when the angles of attack are small. Furthermore, the streamline patterns of passive-shock and boundary-layer interaction are revealed in this study.

Chow, Chuen-Yen↗

Unsteady Flow Field in a Multistage Axial Flow Compressor

The flow field in a multistage compressor is three-dimensional, unsteady, and turbulent with substantial viscous effects. Some of the specific phenomena that has eluded designers include the effects of rotor-stator and rotor-rotor interactions and the physics of mixing of velocity, pressure, temperature and velocity fields. An attempt was made, to resolve experimentally, the unsteady pressure and temperature fields downstream of the second stator of a multistage axial flow compressor which will provide information on rotor-stator interaction effects and the nature of the unsteadiness in an embedded stator of a three stage axial flow compressor. Detailed area traverse measurements using pneumatic five hole probe, thermocouple probe, semi-conductor total pressure probe (Kulite) and an aspirating probe downstream of the second stator were conducted at the peak efficiency operating condition. The unsteady data was then reduced through an ensemble averaging technique which splits the signal into deterministic and unresolved components. Auto and cross correlation techniques were used to correlate the deterministic total temperature and velocity components (acquired using a slanted hot-film probe at the same measurement locations) and the gradients, distributions and relative weights of each of the terms of the average passage equation were then determined. Based on these measurements it was observed that the stator wakes, hub leakage flow region, casing endwall suction surface corner region, and the casing endwall region away from the blade surfaces were the regions of highest losses in total pressure, lowest efficiency and highest levels of unresolved unsteadiness. The deterministic unsteadiness was found to be high in the hub and casing endwall regions as well as on the pressure side of the stator wake. The spectral distribution of hot-wire and kulite voltages shows that at least eight harmonics of all three rotor blade passing frequencies are present at this measurement location. In addition to the basic three rotor blade passing frequencies (R1, R2 and R3) and their harmonics, various difference frequencies such as (2R1 -R2) and (2R3-R2) and their harmonics are also observed. These difference frequencies are due to viscous and potential interactions between rotors 1, 2 and 3 which are sensed by both the total pressure and aspirating probes at this location. Significant changes occur to the stator exit flow features with passage of the rotor upstream of the stator. Because of higher convection speeds of the rotor wake on the suction surface of the downstream stator than on the pressure side, the chopped rotor wake was found to be arriving at different times on either side of the stator wake. As the rotor passes across the stator.

Suryavamshi, N.↗

Physical acoustics

Physical acoustics - electric field associated with sound wave in weakly ionized gas, viscous effects in hydrodynamic plasma, and interference of light with light in plasma

IONIZED GAS↗

An investigation of transient pressure and plasma properties in a pinched plasma column

The transient pinched plasma column generated in a linear Z-pinch was studied experimentally and analytically. The plasma column was investigated experimentally with the following plasma diagnostics: a special rapid response pressure transducer, a magnetic field probe, a voltage probe and discharge luminosity. Axial pressure profiles on the discharge chamber axis were used to identify three characteristic regions of plasma column behavior; they were in temporal sequence: strong axial pressure asymmetry noted early in plasma column lifetime followed by plasma heating in which there is a rapid rise in static pressure and a slight decrease static pressure before plasma column breakup. Plasma column lifetime was approximately 5 microseconds. The axial pressure asymmetry was attributed to nonsimultaneous pinching of the imploding current sheet along the discharge chamber axis. The rapid heating is attributed in part to viscous effects introduced by radial gradients in the axial streaming velocity. Turbulent heating arising from discharge current excitation of the ion acoustic wave instability is also considered a possible heating mechanism.

Stover, E. K.↗

An investigation of transient pressures and plasma properties in a pinched plasma column

The transient pinched plasma column generated in a linear Z-pinch was studied experimentally and analytically. The plasma column was investigated experimentally with several plasma diagnostics; they were: a rapid response pressure transducer, a magnetic field probe, a voltage probe, and discharge luminosity. Axial pressure profiles on the discharge chamber axis were used to identify three characteristic regions of plasma column behavior: (1) strong axial pressure asymmetry noted early in plasma column lifetime, (2) followed by plasma heating in which there is a rapid rise in static pressure, and (3) a slight decrease static pressure before plasma column breakup. Plasma column lifetime was approximately 5 microseconds. The axial pressure asymmetry was attributed to nonsimultaneous pinching of the imploding current sheet along the discharge chamber axis. The rapid heating could be attributed in part to viscous effects introduced by radial gradients in the axial streaming velocity.

Stover, E. K.↗

Static and dynamic pitching moment measurements on a family of elliptic cones at Mach number 11 in helium

Static and dynamic pitching moment measurements were made on a family of constant volume elliptic cones about two fixed axes of oscillation in the NAE helium hypersonic wind tunnel at a Mach number of 11 and at Reynolds numbers based on model length of up to 14 million. Viscous effects on the stability derivatives were investigated by varying the Reynolds number for certain models by a factor as large as 10. The models investigated comprised a 7.75 deg circular cone, elliptic cones of axis ratios 3 and 6, and an elliptic cone with conical protuberances.

Orlik-Rueckermann, K. J.↗

On the applicability of lunar breccias for paleomagnetic interpretations.

The weak but definite remanent magnetization of returned lunar samples is discussed. In general, the breccias have the possibility of carrying a significant viscous remanent magnetism (VRM) when exposed to magnetic fields. The two samples studied appear to exemplify two limiting cases which can be clearly related to the iron distribution present. The VRM measured in the laboratory must have been acquired by the samples since their return to earth because the time decay proceeds at such a rate that any viscous remanence will disappear in less than half a year. In spite of the viscous effects there seems to be little question that some breccias carry a recognizable stable remanent magnetism which is very much like that found in the igneous rocks, both in stability and intensity. It is concluded that it is possible to use some of the breccias to reconstruct the history of the lunar magnetic field.

Gose, W. A.↗

Relaxation solutions for inviscid axisymmetric transonic flow over blunt or pointed bodies.

A finite-difference relaxation method is presented for numerical solution of the full potential equation and exact boundary conditions for general axisymmetric bodies is inviscid, steady transonic flow. Body-normal coordinates are used in the nose region and sheared cylindrical coordinates are used on the afterbody to accommodate corners such as boattails and flares. An improved difference scheme is used which does not require that the flow be nearly alined with a coordinate direction in supersonic regions, and which treats either subsonic or supersonic free streams. Numerical results are illustrated for some simple classical shapes such as spheres and ellipsoids, and for more practical shapes like tangent-ogives with boattails. Special attention is given to bodies which have been studied for area-rule applications. Agreement with available experimental results is good in cases where viscous effects and wind-tunnel wall interference are not important.

South, J. C., Jr.↗

An experimental and theoretical study of the flow phenomena within a vortex sink rate sensor

A description of the flow field within a vortex sink rate sensor was obtained, and the influence of viscous effects on its performance was observed. The sensor basically consisted of a vortex chamber and a sink tube. The vortex chamber consisted of two circular coaxial disks held apart, at their periphery, by a porous coupling. One circular disk had an opening to permit the mounting of the sink tube, in such a manner that the vortex chamber as well as the sink tube had a common axis of rotation. Air was supplied radially to the sensor through its porous coupling as the sensor was rotated at various speeds. Particular emphasis was directed toward an understanding of the flow field in the sink tube region. Thus velocity measurements at various stations along the length of the sink tube as well as along a given radius at any designated station were taken.

Patel, D. K.↗

Longitudinal aerodynamic performance of a series of power-law and minimum wave drag bodies at Mach 6 and several Reynolds numbers

Experimental data have been obtained for two series of bodies at Mach 6 and Reynolds numbers, based on model length, from 1.4 million to 9.5 million. One series consisted of axisymmetric power-law bodies geometrically constrained for constant length and base diameter with values of the exponent n of 0.25, 0.5, 0.6, 0.667, 0.75, and 1.0. The other series consisted of positively and negatively cambered bodies of polygonal cross section, each having a constant longitudinal area distribution conforming to that required for minimizing zero-lift wave drag at hypersonic speeds under the geometric constraints of given length and volume. At the highest Reynolds number, the power-law body for minimum drag is blunter (exponent n lower) than predicted by inviscid theory (n approximately 0.6 instead of n = 0.667); however, the peak value of lift-drag ratio occurs at n = 0.667. Viscous effects were present on the bodies of polygonal cross section but were less pronounced than those on the power-law bodies. The trapezoidal bodies with maximum width at the bottom were found to have the highest maximum lift-drag ratio and the lowest mimimum drag.

Ashby, G. C., Jr.↗

An experimental and theoretical study of the flow phenomena within a vortex sink rate sensor

Tests were conducted to obtain a description of the flow field within a vortex sink rate sensor and to observe the influence of viscous effects on its performance. The characteristics of the sensor are described. The method for conducting the test is reported. It was determined that for a specific mass flow rate and the geometry of the vortex chamber, the flow in the vortex chamber was only affected, locally, by the size of the sink tube diameter. Within the sink tube, all three velocity components were found to be higher for the small sink tube diameters. As the speed of rotation of the sensor was increased, the tangential velocities within the vortex chamber, as well as in the sink tube, increased in proportion to the speed of rotation.

Goglia, G. L.↗

Stagnation and downstream viscous shock-layer solutions with radiation and coupled ablation injection

This paper describes a rigorous viscous shock-layer analysis for investigating high energy equilibrium flow fields about blunt axisymmetric bodies. The analysis includes radiation transfer, mass injection, diffusion, and viscous effects. Radiation transfer is calculated with a nongray radiation model that accounts for line and continuum radiation. The analysis can treat all levels of blowing for both stagnation and downstream flow. Results are presented for selected earth entry conditions that demonstrate the essential features of this analysis. Particular emphasis is given to the effects of mass injection on stagnation and downstream flow. Results for both specified and coupled ablation injection are presented.

Moss, J. N.↗

An analysis method for two-dimensional transonic viscous flow

A method for the approximate calculation of transonic flow over airfoils, including shock waves and viscous effects, is described. Numerical solutions are obtained by use of a computer program which is discussed in the appendix. The importance of including the boundary layer in the analysis is clearly demonstrated, as well as the need to improve on existing procedures near the trailing edge. Comparisons between calculations and experimental data are presented for both conventional and supercritical airfoils, emphasis being on the surface pressure distribution, and good agreement is indicated.

Bavitz, P. C.↗

Nozzle Free Jet Flows Within the Strong Curved Shock Regime

A study based on inviscid analysis was conducted to examine the flow field produced from a convergent-divergent nozzle when a strong curved shock occurs. It was found that a certain constraint is imposed on the flow solution of the problem which is the unique feature of the flow within this flow regime, and provides the reason why the inverse method of calculation cannot be employed for these problems. An approximate method was developed to calculate the flow field, and results were obtained for two-dimensional flows. Analysis and calculations were performed for flows with axial symmetry. It is shown that under certain conditions, the vorticity generated at the jet boundary may become infinite and the viscous effect becomes important. Under other conditions, the asymptotic free jet height as well as the corresponding shock geometry were determined.

Shih, Tso-Shin↗