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At least 289 records · Page 16

Scaling laws for testing of high lift airfoils under heavy rainfall

The results of studies regarding the effect of rainfall about aircraft are briefly reviewed. It is found that performance penalties on airfoils have been identified in subscale tests. For this reason, it is of great importance that scaling laws be dveloped to aid in the extrapolation of these data to fullscale. The present investigation represents an attempt to develop scaling laws for testing subscale airfoils under heavy rain conditions. Attention is given to rain statistics, airfoil operation in heavy rain, scaling laws, thermodynamics of condensation and/or evaporation, rainfall and airfoil scaling, aspects of splash back, film thickness, rivulets, and flap slot blockage. It is concluded that the extrapolation of airfoil performance data taken at subscale under simulated heavy rain conditions to fullscale must be undertaken with caution.

Bilanin, A. J.↗

Detailed measurements of the flowfield in the vicinity of an airfoil with glaze ice

An experimental study has been conducted in the OSU subsonic tunnel to measure the characteristics of the separation bubble on an airfoil with glaze ice. A measured glaze ice accretion on a NACA 0012 airfoil was simulated in wood for this dry tunnel test. The 21 inch chord model was pressure belted and the ice shape internally tapped to obtain surface pressures, lift and moment coefficients. A wake survey probe was used to obtain airfoil drag. The separation bubble was explored by measuring the time averaged velocities using a split film probe. The probe was positioned using a computer controlled two-dimensional traversing system. In this paper, airfoil lift, drag, and moment coefficient data are compared for the airfoil with and without glaze ice. Velocity profiles in the separation bubble are presented for several chordwise stations at three angles of attack. The ice shape caused a severe lift and drag penalty. The velocity profiles show clearly the large bubble geometry, regions of reversed flow, and bubble reattachment.

Bragg, M. B.↗

An improved viscid/inviscid interaction procedure for transonic flow over airfoils

A new interacting boundary layer approach for computing the viscous transonic flow over airfoils is described. The theory includes a complete treatment of viscous interaction effects induced by the wake and accounts for normal pressure gradient effects across the boundary layer near trailing edges. The method is based on systematic expansions of the full Reynolds equation of turbulent flow in the limit of Reynolds numbers, Reynolds infinity. Procedures are developed for incorporating the local trailing edge solution into the numerical solution of the coupled full potential and integral boundary layer equations. Although the theory is strictly applicable to airfoils with cusped or nearly cusped trailing edges and to turbulent boundary layers that remain fully attached to the airfoil surface, the method was successfully applied to more general airfoils and to flows with small separation zones. Comparisons of theoretical solutions with wind tunnel data indicate the present method can accurately predict the section characteristics of airfoils including the absolute levels of drag.

Melnik, R. E.↗

The construction of airfoil pressure models by the plate method: Achievements, current research, technology development and potential applications

A method of constructing airfoils by inscribing pressure channels on the face of opposing plates, bonding them together to form one plate with integral channels, and contour machining this plate to form an airfoil model is described. The research and development program to develop the bonding technology is described as well as the construction and testing of an airfoil model. Sample aerodynamic data sets are presented and discussed. Also, work currently under way to produce thin airfoils with camber is presented. Samples of the aft section of a 6 percent airfoil with complete pressure instrumentation including the trailing edge are pictured and described. This technique is particularly useful in fabricating models for transonic cryogenic testing, but it should find application in a wide ange of model construction projects, as well as the fabrication of fuel injectors, space hardware, and other applications requiring advanced bonding technology and intricate fluid passages.

Lawing, P. L.↗

Separation bubble behavior for a NACA 23009 airfoil

Results are reported of experiments with smoke-wire flow visualization applied to characterizing the conditions conducive to formation of a separation bubble on an airfoil in low Re flow. An airfoil was used which spanned the test channel of the wind tunnel designed for low turbulence and noise. A wire coated with mineral oil was stretched across the channel upstream of the airfoil and heated. The smoke it gave off was flash-illuminated and photographed with ASA 3000 film. Extending the airfoil over the entire section yielded photographs that gave an essentially two-dimensional perspective. Angles of attack from 0-10 deg were investigated at Re of 33,000, 66,000, 100,000 and 133,000. Sample photographs illustrate the usefulness of the technique and apparatus in the flow regimes examined, particularly when used in conjunction with pressure tap data from the airfoil surface.

Fisher, S. S.↗

The response of airfoils to periodic disturbances - The unsteady Kutta condition

Two cases of unsteady flowfields over a NACA 0012 airfoil at an angle of attack are examined. The first is the classical pitching motion about the airfoil's quarter chord. The second is the flow over a fixed airfoil immersed in the wake of the pitching airfoil. Large reduced frequencies are examined. Measurements were obtained in a water tunnel by laser Doppler velocimetry. Ensemble-averaged velocity measurements were obtained in the vicinity of the trailing edges of both the pitching and the fixed airfoil. The results indicate that the classical unsteady Kutta condition is clearly not valid. An extension of this condition earlier proposed by Giesing and Maskell is examined and some evidence is provided for its support.

Poling, D. R.↗

Influence of airfoil camber on convected gust interaction noise

This paper investigates the effect of airfoil steady loading on the sound generated by the interaction of an airfoil with a convected disturbance. A previous theory, which included only the incidence angle contribution to the mean loading, is extended to include camber. The theory is based on a linearization of the Euler equations about a nonuniform, 0(1) Mach number subsonic mean flow. The discussion concentrates on the case of a slightly cambered airfoil at small incidence angle, interacting with a gust whose wavelength is short compared to the airfoil chord. The small parameter representing the amount of camber and incidence, and the large parameter representing the ratio of airfoil chord to disturbance wavelength, are utilized in a singular perturbation solution to the governing equations. Acoustic power calculations reveal that the amount of sound generated increases significantly with increased loading. More importantly, it is shown that the radiated acoustic power correlates very well with the strength of the mean flow around the leading edge.

Myers, M. R.↗

Numerical simulations of unsteady, viscous, transonic flow over isolated and cascaded airfoils using a deforming grid

A compressible, unsteady, full Navier-Stokes, finite difference code was developed for modeling transonic flow through two-dimensional, oscillating cascades. The procedure introduces a deforming grid technique to capture the motion of the airfoils. Results using a deforming grid are presented for both isolated and cascaded airfoils. The load histories and unsteady pressure distributions are predicted for the NASA 64A010 isolated airfoil and compared with existing experimental data. Results show that the deforming grid technique can be used to successfully predict the unsteady flow properties around an oscillating airfoil. The deforming grid technique was extended for modeling unsteady flow in a cascade. The use of a deforming grid simplifies the specification of boundary conditions. Unsteady flow solutions similar to the isolated airfoil predictions are found for a NACA 0012 cascade with zero interblade phase angle and zero stagger. Experimental data for these cases are not available for code validation, but computational results are presented to show sample predictions from the code. Applications of the code to typical turbomachinery flow conditions will be presented in future work.

Huff, Dennis L.↗

Materials for Advanced Turbine Engines (MATE). Project 4: Erosion resistant compressor airfoil coating

The ability of coatings to provide at least a 2X improvement in particulate erosion resistance for steel, nickel and titanium compressor airfoils was identified and demonstrated. Coating materials evaluated included plasma sprayed cobalt tungsten carbide, nickel carbide and diffusion applied chromium plus boron. Several processing parameters for plasma spray processing and diffusion coating were evaluated to identify coating systems having the most potential for providing airfoil erosion resistance. Based on laboratory results and analytical evaluations, selected coating systems were applied to gas turbine blades and evaluated for surface finish, burner rig erosion resistance and effect on high cycle fatigue strength. Based on these tests, the following coatings were recommended for engine testing: Gator-Gard plasma spray 88WC-12Co on titanium alloy airfoils, plasma spray 83WC-17Co on steel and nickel alloy airfoils, and Cr+B on nickel alloy airfoils.

Rashid, J. M.↗

An analysis of the crossover between local and massive separation on airfoils

Massive separation on airfoils operating at high Reynolds number is an important problem to the aerodynamicist, since its onset generally determines the limiting performance of an airfoil, and it can lead to serious problems related to aircraft control as well as turbomachinery operation. The phenomenon of crossover between local separation and massive separation on realistic airfoil geometries induced by airfoil thickness is investigated for low speed (incompressible) flow. The problem is studied both for the asymptotic limit of infinite Reynolds number using triple-deck theory, and for finite Reynolds number using interacting boundary-layer theory. Numerical results are presented which follow the evolution of the flow as it develops from a mildly separated state to one dominated by the massively separated flow structure as the thickness of the airfoil geometry is systematically increased. The effect of turbulence upon the evolution of the flow is considered, and the impact is significant, with the principal effect being the suppression of the onset of separation. Finally, the effect of surface suction and injection for boundary-layer control is considered. The approach which was developed provides a valuable tool for the analysis of boundary-layer separation up to and beyond stall. Another important conclusion is that interacting boundary-layer theory provides an efficient tool for the analysis of the effect of turbulence and boundary-layer control upon separated vicsous flow.

Barnett, M.↗

Transonic characteristics of a humped airfoil

A humped airfoil concept to improve the perfomance of supercritical airfoils at off-design conditions in transonic maneuver is introduced. Theoretical aspects of the airfoil and recent results of experimental tests conducted in the high Reynolds number transonic wind tunnels at both NASA Ames Research Center and The Ohio State University are presented. Experimental evidence has shown that the humped airfoil generally has more favorable transonic characteristics in off-design high supercritical flow conditions than a regular supercritical airfoil.

Tai, Tsze C.↗

Viscous Transonic Airfoil Workshop compendium of results

Results from the Viscous Transonic Airfoil Workshop held at the AIAA 25th Aerospace Sciences Meeting at Reno, NV in January 1987, are compared with each other and with experimental data. Test cases used in this workshop include attached and separated transonic flows for three different airfoils: the NACA 0012 airfoil, the RAE 2822 airfoil, and the Jones airfoil. A total of 23 sets of numerical results from 15 different author groups are included. The numerical methods used vary widely and include: 16 Navier-Stokes methods, 2 Euler/boundary-layer methods, and 5 full-potential/boundary-layer methods. The results indicate a high degree of sophistication among the numerical methods with generally good agreement between the various computed and experimental results for attached or moderately-separated cases. The agreement for cases with larger separation is only fair and suggests additional work is required in this area.

Holst, Terry L.↗

Numerical simulations of unsteady, viscous, transonic flow over isolated and cascaded airfoils using a deforming grid

A compressible, unsteady, full Navier-Stokes, finite difference code was developed for modeling transonic flow through two-dimensional, oscillating cascades. The procedure introduces a deforming grid technique to capture the motion of the airfoils. Results using a deforming grid are presented for both isolated and cascaded airfoils. The load histories and unsteady pressure distributions are predicted for the NASA 64A010 isolated airfoil and compared with existing experimental data. Results show that the deforming grid technique can be used to successfully predict the unsteady flow properties around an oscillating airfoil. The deforming grid technique was extended for modeling unsteady flow in a cascade. The use of a deforming grid simplifies the specification of boundary conditions. Unsteady flow solutions similar to the isolated airfoil predictions are found for a NACA 0012 cascade with zero interblade phase angle and zero stagger. Experimental data for these cases are not available for code validation, but computational results are presented to show sample predictions from the code. Applications of the code to typical turbomachinery flow conditions will be presented in future work.

Huff, Dennis L.↗

Divergent-Trailing-Edge Airfoil

Wedge concept integrated into basic airfoil design. Current airfoil design, DLBA 238, developed to produce airfoil with superior geometric characteristics and equivalent cruise aerodynamic characteristics. "Trailing-edge wedge" concept improved by integration into basic airfoil design for DLBA 238. Trailing-edge thickness and maximum thickness constrained to be same as baseline DLBA 032. Base drag-penalty of wedge avoided. Airfoil upper-surface geometry held fixed.

Henne, Preston A.↗

Wind tunnel studies of circulation control elliptical airfoils

Effects of blown jets on the lift and drag of cambered elliptical airfoils are described. Performance changes due to a splitter plate attached to the lower surface of an elliptical airfoil near the trailing edge with and without blowing are indicated. Lift and drag characteristics of airfoils with two blown jets are compared with airfoils with single blowing jets. Airfoil designs that vary the location of a second jet relative to a fixed jet are described.

Franke, M. E.↗

The NASA Langley Laminar-Flow-Control (LFC) experiment on a swept, supercritical airfoil: Design overview

A large-chord, swept, supercritical, laminar-flow-control (LFC) airfoil was designed and constructed and is currently undergoing tests in the Langley 8 ft Transonic Pressure Tunnel. The experiment was directed toward evaluating the compatibility of LFC and supercritical airfoils, validating prediction techniques, and generating a data base for future transport airfoil design as part of NASA's ongoing research program to significantly reduce drag and increase aircraft efficiency. Unique features of the airfoil included a high design Mach number with shock free flow and boundary layer control by suction. Special requirements for the experiment included modifications to the wind tunnel to achieve the necessary flow quality and contouring of the test section walls to simulate free air flow about a swept model at transonic speeds. Design of the airfoil with a slotted suction surface, the suction system, and modifications to the tunnel to meet test requirements are discussed.

Harris, Charles D.↗

High Reynolds number tests of a Douglas DLBA 032 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

A wind-tunnel investigation of a Douglas advanced-technology airfoil was conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (0.3-m TCT). The temperature was varied from 227 K (409 R) to 100 K (180 R) at pressures ranging from about 159 kPa (1.57 atm) to about 514 kPa (5.07 atm). Mach number was varied from 0.50 to 0.78. These variables provided a Reynolds number range (based on airfoil chord) from 6.0 to 30.0 x 10 to the 6th power. This investigation was specifically designed to: (1) test a Douglas airfoil from moderately low to flight-equivalent Reynolds numbers, and (2) evaluate sidewall-boundary-layer effects on transonic airfoil performance characteristics by a systematic variation of Mach number, Reynolds number, and sidewall-boundary-layer removal. Data are included which demonstrate the effects of fixing transition, Mach number, Reynolds number, and sidewall-boundary-layer removal on the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil. Also included are remarks on model design and model structural integrity.

Johnson, Charles B.↗

Supercritical flow past a symmetrical bicircular arc airfoil

A numerical scheme is developed for computing steady supercritical flow about symmetrical airfoils, applying it to an ellipse for zero angle of attack. An algorithmic description of this new scheme is presented. Application to a symmetrical bicircular arc airfoil is also proposed. The flow field before the shock is region 1. For transonic flow, singularity can be avoided by integrating the resulting ordinary differential equations away from the body. Region 2 contains the shock which will be located by shock fitting techniques. The shock divides region 2 into supersonic and subsonic regions and there is no singularity problem in this case. The Method of Lines is used in this region and it is advantageous to integrate the resulting ordinary differential equation along the body for shock fitting. Coaxial coordinates have to be used for the bicircular arc airfoil so that boundary values on the airfoil body can be taken with one direction of the coaxial coordinates fixed. To avoid taking boundary values at + or - infinity in the coaxial co-ordinary system, approximate analytical representation of the flow field near the tips of the airfoil is proposed.

Holt, Maurice↗