Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “flow pattern”

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 235 records · Page 13

Flow visualization and interpretation of visualization data for deflected thrust V/STOL nozzles

Flow visualization studies were made for four deflected thrust nozzle models at subsonic speeds. Based on topological rules and the assumption that observed streaks constitute continuous vector fields, available visualization pictures are interpreted and flow patterns on interior surfaces of the nozzles are synthesized. In particular, three dimensional flow structure and separations are discussed. From the synthesized patterns, the overall features of the flow field in a given nozzle can be approximately perceived.

Kao, H. C.↗

Flow visualization and interpretation of visualization data for deflected thrust V/STOL nozzles

Flow visualization studies were made for four deflected thrust nozzle models at subsonic speeds. Based on topological rules and the assumption that observed streaks constitute continuous vector fields, available visualization pictures are interpreted and flow patterns on interior surfaces of the nozzles are synthesized. In particular, three dimensional flow structure and separations are discussed. From the synthesized patterns, the overall features of the flow field in a given nozzle can be approximately perceived. Previously announced in STAR as N84-14147

Kao, H. C.↗

Fuselage ventilation due to wind flow about a postcrash aircraft

Postcrash aircraft fuselage fire development, dependent on the internal and external fluid dynamics is discussed. The natural ventilation rate, a major factor in the internal flow patterns and fire development is reviewed. The flow about the fuselage as affected by the wind and external fire is studied. An analysis was performend which estimated the rates of ventilation produced by the wind for a limited idealized environmental configuration. The simulation utilizes the empirical pressure coefficient distribution of an infinite circular cylinder near a wall with its boundary later flow to represent the atmospheric boundary layer. The resulting maximum ventilation rate for two door size openings, with varying circumferential location in a common 10 mph wind was an order of magnitude greater than the forced ventilation specified in full scale fire testing. The parameter discussed are: (1) fuselage size and shape, (2) fuselage orientation and proximity to the ground, (3) fuselage-openings size and location, (4) wind speed and direction, and (5) induced flow of the external fire plume is recommended. The fire testing should be conducted to a maximum ventilation rate at least an order of magnitude greater than the inflight air conditioning rates.

Stuart, J. W.↗

An experimental investigation of the subcritical and supercritical flow about a swept semispan wing

An experimental investigation of the turbulent, subcritical and supercritical flow over a swept, semispan wing in a solid wall wind tunnel is described. The program was conducted over a range of Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers, and angles of attack to provide a variety of test cases for assessment of wing computer codes and tunnel wall interference effects. Wing flows both without and with three dimensional flow separation are included. Data include mean surface pressures for both the wing and tunnel walls; surface oil flow patterns on the wing; and mean velocity, flow field surveys. The results are given in tabular form and presented graphically to illustrate some of the effects of the test parameters. Comparisons of the wing pressure data with the results from two inviscid wing codes are also shown to assess the importance of viscous flow and tunnel wall effects.

Lockman, W. K.↗

Bars within bars - A mechanism for fuelling active galactic nuclei

A mechanism, applicable to AGN and nuclear starburst galaxies in which there is accretion onto a supermassive black hole (SBH), is proposed which brings in gas from large to small scales by successive dynamical instabilities. On the large scale, a stellar bar sweeps the interstellar medium into a gaseous disk a few hundred pc in radius. Under certain conditions, this disk can become unstable again, allowing material to flow inwards until turbulent viscous processes control angular-momentum transport. This flow pattern may feed viscosity-driven accretion flows around an SBH or lead to the formation of an SBH if none was present initially.

Shlosman, Isaac↗

A computational study of incipient leading-edge separation on a 65-deg delta wing at M = 1.60

A computational study on a 65-deg delta wing at a freestream Mach number of 1.60 has been conducted by obtaining conical Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solutions on a parametric series of geometries which varied in leading-edge radius and/or circular-arc camber. The computational results showed that increasing leading-edge radius or camber can delay the onset of leading-edge separation on the leeside of a delta wing at a specific angle of attack. Reynolds number was varied from 1 x 10 to the 6th to 5 x 10 to the 6th for a turbulent boundary-layer and was shown to have a minor effect on the effectiveness of leading-edge radius and/or camber in delaying the onset of leading-edge separation. Both laminar and turbulent boundary-layer models were investigated at a Reynolds number of 1 x 10 to the 6th, and the predicted flow pattern was found to change from attached flow for the turbulent boundary-layer model to separated flow for the laminar boundary-layer model. Based upon these results, three wind-tunnel models have been designed to be tested in the Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel.

Mcmillin, S. Naomi↗

Experimental and analytical study of close-coupled ventral nozzles for ASTOVL aircraft

Flow in a generic ventral nozzle system was studied experimentally and analytically with a block version of the PARC3D computational fluid dynamics program (a full Navier-Stokes equation solver) in order to evaluate the program's ability to predict system performance and internal flow patterns. Measurements showed about 5.5-percent flow-turning loss, reasonable nozzle performance coefficients, and a significant aftward axial component of thrust due to flow turning more than 90 deg. Flow behavior into and through the ventral duct is discussed and illustrated with paint streak flow visualization photographs. PARC3D flow visualization images are shown for comparison with the paint streak photographs. Modeling and computational issues encountered in the analytical work are discussed.

Mcardle, Jack G.↗

Large-scale flow in the dayside magnetosheath

The degree of control over plasma flow direction exerted by the compressed magnetic field in the dayside magnetosheath is examined by comparing ISEE 1 LEPEDEA data with hydrodynamic and MHD predictions. In 11 of 20 observed cases, the flow pattern followed the predictions of simple hydrodynamic theory; in the nine other cases, the flow deviated from this pattern. One case with large deflection was persistent over 1.5 hr, and its direction was consistent with a stagnation point displacement resulting from increased, asymmetric magnetic field pressure contributions during periods of low Alfven Mach number. The eight other cases of observed large deflection are consistent with either the subsolar merging line or the antiparallel merging hypothesis, but not exclusively with one or the other.

Crooker, N. U.↗

Qualitative responses of a vortex core to tip blowing and intersecting airfoils

The qualitative responses of a trailing vortex core to change in its convective velocity produced by injection of air into the vortex core and by the flow field of a lifting surface in the path of the core are discussed. Flow pictures of the vortex core and vorticity measurements in the core show that an axial momentum injection of approximately 35% of the total wing drag alters the vortex structure and behavior quite drastically by effectively inducing a more rapid dispersion of the vorticity in the core. The data indicate that the phenomenon is governed by the rate of injection of the momentum rather than the mass flow rate. There also seems to be an optimum rate of injection beyond which increased injection does not bring about equally significant changes in the vortex core. Flow patterns of the region of interaction between the flow field of a lifting surface and the vortex core show two modes of vortex response; (1) the vortex core bends, following the streamline shape until it intercepts the wake of the wing where it is abruptly dispersed, or (2) the vortex core may be sliced into two similar vortices when the vortex hits the leading edge of the wing.

Kantha, H. L.↗

Electron observations and ion flows from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter plasma analyzer experiment

Additional plasma measurements in the vicinity of Venus are presented. It is shown that (1) there are three distinct plasma electron populations - solar wind electrons, ionosheath electrons, and nightside ionosphere electrons; (2) the plasma ion flow pattern in the ionosheath is consistent with deflected flow around a blunt obstacle; (3) the plasma ion flow velocities near the downstream wake may, at times, be consistent with the deflection of plasma into the tail, closing the solar wind cavity downstream from Venus at a relatively close distance (within 5 Venus radii) to the planet; (4) there is a separation between the inner boundary of the downstream ionosheath and the upper boundary of the nightside ionosphere; and (5) during the first 4.5 months in orbit the measured solar wind plasma speed continued to vary, showing a number of high-speed, but generally nonrecurrent, streams.

Intriligator, D. S.↗

Film-cooling effectiveness with developing coolant flow through straight and curved tubular passages

The data were obtained with an apparatus designed to determine the influence of tubular coolant passage curvature on film-cooling performance while simulating the developing flow entrance conditions more representative of cooled turbine blade. Data comparisons were made between straight and curved single tubular passages embedded in the wall and discharging at 30 deg angle in line with the tunnel flow. The results showed an influence of curvature on film-cooling effectiveness that was inversely proportional to the blowing rate. At the lowest blowing rate of 0.18, curvature increased the effectiveness of film cooling by 35 percent; but at a blowing rate of 0.76, the improvement was only 10 percent. In addition, the increase in film-cooling area coverage ranged from 100 percent down to 25 percent over the same blowing rates. A data trend reversal at a blowing rate of 1.5 showed the straight tubular passage's film-cooling effectiveness to be 20 percent greater than that of the curved passage with about 80 percent more area coverage. An analysis of turbulence intensity detain the mixing layer in terms of the position of the mixing interface relative to the wall supported the concept that passage curvature tends to reduce the diffusion of the coolant jet into the main stream at blowing rates below about. Explanations for the film-cooling performance of both test sections were made in terms differences in turbulences structure and in secondary flow patterns within the coolant jets as influenced by flow passage geometry.

Papell, S. S.↗

Heating rate distributions at Mach 10 on a circular body earth-to-orbit transport vehicle

A 0.0055-scale model of a single-stage-to-orbit transport vehicle with a circular body configuration was tested at Mach 10 to obtain heat transfer measurements and surface flow patterns. Phase-change paint and oil-flow tests were performed in the Langley 31-Inch Mach-10 Tunnel at angles of attack from 20 through 40 deg in 5-deg increments. Heat-transfer coefficient data are given for all angles of attack, and detailed oil-flow photographs are presented for windward and leeward surfaces at 25 and 40 deg angle of attack. Heating was found to similar to that previously determined for the Space Shuttle Orbiter, so that existing thermal protection systems would appear to be adequate for the proposed circular-body configurations.

Wells, W. L.↗

Observations of magnetospheric convection from low altitudes

The high-latitude ionosphere is considered as a convenient 'viewing screen' for deducing magnetospheric convection, since the footprints of the immense volume of the magnetospheric flux tubes map to a considerably more manageable surface area. This area is, however, still very large, and an instantaneous measurement of the flow pattern over the entire high latitude region is presently not feasible. Therefore, much effort has been made in synthesizing many passes of polar orbiting spacecraft into convection patterns. The present investigation follows the development of a description of the global convection pattern and its dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The convection pattern is described in terms of the plasma flow speed and direction. Attention is given to the southward interplanetary magnetic field and the northward interplanetary magnetic field.

Heelis, R. A.↗

Mach number effects on conical surface features of swept shock boundary-layer interactions

A joint experimental and computational study is made of the shock-wave turbulent boundary-layer interaction generated by sharp fins, with emphasis on Mach-number effects. The Mach number range is from 2 to 4 and the unit Reynolds number is from 50 to 80 million per meter. Fin angles are varied from 4 to 22 deg. Surface-flow patterns are obtained using a color surface-flow-visualization technique. The results show that the upstream-influence response in the conical far-field region is a function of the freestream Mach number and the shock strength. A new interpretation of the behavior of the upstream influence with changes of the inviscid shock angle is given. Agreement between the experimental and the computed upstream-influence lines becomes poorer for stronger interactions, with the computations underpredicting the upstream-influence line.

Lu, F. K.↗

Ground-based experiments on thermal and thermosolutal convection in inclined low-aspect-ratio enclosures

Thermal and thermosolutal convection driven by buoyancy forces are investigated experimentally in inclined low-aspect-ratio enclosures. Thermal and thermosolutal convection are important in crystal growth processes. The transport process in the fluid phase during the growth of a crystal has a profound influence on the structure and quality of the solid phase. The present work is concerned with natural convection in a shallow rectangular enclosure with imposed inclined temperature and/or concentration gradients. Various complex flow patterns are observed with different experimental conditions. A flow instability under certain conditions is reported. The flow instability is found to depend not only on the thermal and solutal Grashof numbers, the aspect ratios, but also the inclined angles.

Wang, L. W.↗

On the differences between plage and quiet sun in the solar photosphere

Time sequences of interleaved observations of the continuum intensity, longitudinal magnetic field, vertical velocity in the midphotosphere, and the line-center intensity in Ni I 6768 A were obtained in an active-region plage and the surrounding relatively field-free area near disk center. Spacetime Fourier filtering techniques are used to separate the convective and oscillatory components of the solar atmosphere. The properties of the photosphere are found to differ qualitatively and quantitatively between the plage, where the field is 150 G or more, and its quiet surroundings. The scale of granulation is smaller, the contrast lower, and the temporal evolution slower in the plage than the quiet sun. In the plage, the vertical velocity is reduced in amplitude compared to the quiet sun, and there is little evidence of a granulation pattern, while in the quiet sun the vertical flow pattern is similar in size and shape to the underlying granulation pattern in the continuum.

Title, Alan M.↗