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At least 307 records · Page 17

Low speed airfoil study

Airfoil geometries were developed for low speed high lift applications, such as general aviation aircraft, propellers and helicopter rotors. The primary effort was to determine the extent to which the application of turbulent boundary layer separation criteria, plus manipulation of other input parameters, specifically trailing edging velocity ratio, could be utilized to achieve high C sub Lmax airfoils with relatively low drag at C sub Lmax. Both single-element and double-element airfoils were considered. Wind tunnel testing of some airfoils was included.

Ormsbee, A. I.↗

Low speed test of a high-bypass-ratio propulsion system with an asymmetric inlet designed for a tilt-nacelle V/STOL airplane

A large scale model of a lift/cruise fan inlet designed for a tilt nacelle V/STOL airplane was tested with a high bypass ratio turbofan. Testing was conducted at low freestream velocities with inlet angles of attack ranging from 0 deg to 120 deg. The operating limits for the nacelle were found to be related to inlet boundary layer separation. Small separations originating in the inlet diffuser cause little or no performance degradation. However, at sufficiently severe freestream conditions the separation changes abruptly to a lip separation. This change is associated with a significant reduction in nacelle net thrust as well as a sharp increase in fan blade vibratory stresses. Consequently, the onset of lip separation is regarded as the nacelle operating limit. The test verified that the asymmetric inlet design will provide high performance and stable operation at the design forward speed and angle of attack conditions. At some of these, however, operation near the lower end of the design inlet airflow range is not feasible due to the occurrence of lip separation.

Syberg, J.↗

Three-dimensional computational aerodynamics in the 1980's

The future requirements for constructing codes that can be used to compute three-dimensional flows about aerodynamic shapes should be assessed in light of the constraints imposed by future computer architectures and the reality of usable algorithms that can provide practical three-dimensional simulations. On the hardware side, vector processing is inevitable in order to meet the CPU speeds required. To cope with three-dimensional geometries, massive data bases with fetch/store conflicts and transposition problems are inevitable. On the software side, codes must be prepared that: (1) can be adapted to complex geometries, (2) can (at the very least) predict the location of laminar and turbulent boundary layer separation, and (3) will converge rapidly to sufficiently accurate solutions.

Lomax, H.↗

Viscous flow simulations in VTOL aerodynamics

The critical issues in viscous flow simulations, such as boundary-layer separation, entrainment, turbulence modeling, and compressibility, are discussed with regard to the ground effects problem for vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft. A simulation of the two-dimensional incompressible lift jet in ground proximity is based on solution of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations and a turbulence-model equation which are written in stream function-vorticity form and are solved using Hoffman's augmented-central-difference algorithm. The resulting equations and their shortcomings are discussed when the technique is extended to two-dimensional compressible and three-dimensional incompressible flows.

Bower, W. W.↗

Dynamic stall of an oscillating airfoil

Unsteady separated boundary layers and wakes were studied by investigating flow past an oscillating airfoil which in part models the retreating blade stall on the helicopters. The Navier-Stokes equations in terms of the vorticity and stream function for laminar flow were solved to determine the flow field around a modified NACA 0012 airfoil. After a fully developed flow was determined at zero incidence, the airfoil was oscillated in pitch through an angle of attack range from 0 deg to 20 deg. The computed streamlines during this pitch-up motion are in qualitative agreement with the trajectories of air bubbles observed in water tunnel experiments conducted with a NACA 0012 airfoil under the same conditions. During the pitch-down motion of the airfoil, the computed flow patterns cannot be compared with the experiments because the trajectories of air bubbles intersect.

Mehta, U. B.↗

VSTOL tilt nacelle aerodynamics and its relation to fan blade stresses

A scale model of a VSTOL tilt nacelle with a 0.508 m single stage fan was tested in a low speed wind tunnel to ascertain inlet aerodynamic and fan aeromechanical performance over the low speed flight envelope. Fan blade stress maxima occurred at discrete rotational speeds corresponding to integral engine order vibrations of the first flatwise bending mode. Increased fan blade stress levels coincided with internal boundary layer separation but became severe only when the separation location had progressed to the entry lip region of the inlet.

Shaw, R. J.↗

Shockless airfoils with thicknesses of 20.6 and 20.7 percent chord analytically designed for a Mach number of 0.68 and a lift coefficient of 0.40

A 20.8 percent-thick airfoil shape was designed to have shockless inviscid flow at a Mach number of 0.68 and a lift coefficient of 0.40. In order to determine the actual airfoils which would yield this same shockless flow when viscous effects are included, boundary layer displacement thicknesses were subtracted from the inviscid shape for Reynolds numbers of 100 and 35 million. This process yielded airfoils with thicknesses of 20.7 and 20.6 percent, respectively. Subtraction of boundary layer displacement thicknesses for Reynolds numbers below 35 million yielded nonphysical airfoils, that is airfoils with negative thicknesses near tHe trailing edge. The pitching moment about the quarter-chord point at the design condition was -0.082 for the inviscid shape and, consequently, for both airfoils. Off-design calculations for the two airfoils were made using a computer program which provides for the interaction of the inviscid flow and boundary layer solutions. The pressure distributions of the airfoils were shockless for conditions from the design point to lower Mach numbers and lift coefficients. No boundary layer separation was predicted except in the last 3 percent chord on the upper surface.

Allison, D. O.↗

Experimental investigation of three helicopter rotor airfoils designed analytically

Three helicopter rotor airfoils designed analytically were investigated in a wind tunnel at Mach numbers from about 0.30 to 0.90 and Reynolds from about 0.8 to 2.3 x 10 to the 6th power. The airfoils had thickness-to-chord ratios of 0.08, 0.10, and 0.12 with maximum thickness at 40 percent chord. The camber distribution of each section was the same with maximum camber at 35 percent chord. The 10-percent-thick airfoil was also investigated at Reynolds numbers from 4.8 to 9.4 x 10 to the 6th power. The drag divergence Mach number of the 10-percent-thick airfoil is about 0.83 at a normal-force coefficient of 0 and about 0.72 at a normal-force coefficient of 0.6 at Reynolds numbers near 9 x 10 to the 6th power. The maximum normal-force coefficient is slightly less than that of the NACA 0012 airfoil tested in the same facility. The results indicate that a qualitative evaluation of the drag divergence can be made at normal-force coefficients up to the onset of boundary-layer separation by analytically predicting the onset of sonic flow at the airfoil crest. The qualitative results are conservative with respect to experimental values with the experimental drag divergence Mach number up to 0.05 higher than that indicated by analysis.

Bingham, G. J.↗

Low-speed wind tunnel results for a modified 13-percent-thick airfoil

Wind-tunnel tests were conducted to evaluate the effects on performance of modifying a 13-percent-thick low-speed airfoil. The airfoil contour was altered to reduce the aft upper surface pressure gradient and hence delay boundary layer separation at typical lift coefficients for light general aviation airplanes. The tests were conducted at a Mach number of 0.15 or less over a Reynolds number range from about 1,000,000 to 9,000,000.

Mcghee, R. J.↗

Disturbance amplification rates

Program computes incompressible linear stability characteristics for swept and tapered wings. Amplification rates of boundary-layer disturbances also are calculated. Program is useful in designing tapered, laminar-flow control wings incorporating suction to prevent boundary layer separation. Program is written in FORTRAN IV and Assembler for batch execution on CYBER 70-series.

Srokowski, A. J.↗

Investigation of blown boundary layers with an improved wall jet system

The behavior of two dimensional incompressible turbulent wall jets submerged in a boundary layer when they are used to prevent boundary layer separation on plane surfaces is investigated. The experimental set-up and instrumentation are described. Experimental results of zero pressure gradient flow and adverse pressure gradient flow are presented. Conclusions are given and discussed.

Saripalli, K. R.↗

Aerodynamic-structural analysis of dual bladed helicopter systems

The aerodynamic and structural feasibility of the birotor blade concept is assessed. The inviscid flow field about the dual bladed rotor was investigated to determine the aerodynamic characteristics for various dual rotor blade placement combinations with respect to blade stagger, gap, and angle of attack between the two blades. The boundary layer separation on the rotors was studied and three dimensional induced drag calculations for the dual rotor system are presented. The thrust and power requirements of the rotor system were predicted. NASTRAN, employed as the primary modeling tool, was used to obtain a model for predicting in plane bending, out of plane bending, and the torsional behavior of the birotors. Local hub loads, blade loads, and the natural frequencies for the birotor configuration are discussed.

Selberg, B. P.↗

Wind-tunnel results for an improved 21-percent-thick low-speed airfoil section

Low speed wind tunnel tests were conducted to evaluate the effects on performance of modifying a 23 percent thick low speed airfoil. The airfoil contour was altered to reduce the upper-surface adverse pressure gradient and hence reduce boundary layer separation. The chord Reynolds number varied from about 2,000,000 to 9,000,000.

Mcghee, R. J.↗

Investigation of the flow field surrounding circular-arc boattail nozzles at subsonic speeds

The effects of jet exhaust on the subsonic flow field surrounding boattail nozzles with attached and separated boundary layers were investigated. Measurements of local Mach numbers and flow angles were made at free-stream Mach numbers of 0.60 and 0.80 at an angle of attack of 0 deg. Jet exhaust flow was simulated with a solid cylindrical sting and with high pressure air at jet-nozzle total pressure ratios of 2.9 and 5.0. Results show strong effects of the jet-wave structure on the external flow field. The predicted local Mach numbers and flow angles for attached-flow nozzles with solid jet simulators obtained by using subsonic inviscid/viscous-flow theory are in good agreement with experimental data. Prediction of nozzle surface pressure distributions which include jet-entrainment effects also agree with experimental data for attached-flow nozzles with high pressure air jets.

Abeyounis, W. K.↗

Controlled supercritical crossflow on supersonic wings - An experimental validation

Leading edges of wings with high lift at supersonic speeds are discussed. Under these conditions, the leading edge must generate a controlled supercritical crossflow such that high lift is obtained without boundary layer separation. The leading edge concept that accomplishes this is the supersonic counterpart of the leading edge of the 2-D supercritical airfoil at transonic speeds. Wind tunnel test results on a cambered wing with a controlled supercritical crossflow leading edge successfully validated the concept. The main results are presented at the M = 1.62 design point, with off-design results given for the range of Mach numbers from 1.60 to 2.00. Surface pressure, oil flow photographs, and force data are presented and analyzed. A flat wing with the same thickness distribution was also tested and the results were used both for comparison with the designed wing and to illustrate the development of the supercritical crossflow region which, for the flat wing, is terminated by a distinct crossflow shock wave.

Mason, W. H.↗

Theoretical study of hull-rotor aerodynamic interference on semibuoyant vehicles

Analytical methods are developed to predict the pressure distribution and overall loads on the hulls of airships which have close coupled, relatively large and/or high disk loading propulsors for attitude control, station keeping, and partial support of total weight as well as provision of thrust in cruise. The methods comprise a surface-singularity, potential-flow model for the hull and lifting surfaces (such as tails) and a rotor model which calculates the velocity induced by the rotor and its wake at points adjacent to the wake. Use of these two models provides an inviscid pressure distribution on the hull with rotor interference. A boundary layer separation prediction method is used to locate separation on the hull, and a wake pressure is imposed on the separated region for purposes of calculating hull loads. Results of calculations are shown to illustrate various cases of rotor-hull interference and comparisons with small scale data are made to evaluate the method.

Spangler, S. B.↗

Aerodynamic tests and analysis of a turbojet-boosted launch vehicle concept (spacejet) over a Mach number range of 1.50 to 2.86

Results from analytical and experimental studies of the aerodynamic characteristics of a turbojet-boosted launch vehicle concept through a Mach number range of 1.50 to 2.86 are presented. The vehicle consists of a winged orbiter utilizing an area-ruled axisymmetric body and two winged turbojet boosters mounted underneath the orbiter wing. Drag characteristics near zero lift were of prime interest. Force measurements and flow visualization techniques were employed. Estimates from wave drag theory, supersonic lifting surface theory, and impact theory are compared with data and indicate the ability of these theories to adequately predict the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle. Despite the existence of multiple wings and bodies in close proximity to each other, no large scale effects of boundary layer separation on drag or lift could be discerned. Total drag levels were, however, sensitive to booster locations.

Riebe, G. D.↗

A quasi-three-dimensional blade surface boundary layer analysis for rotating blade rows

A quasi-three-dimensional approximation has been developed for a blade boundary layer which involves the calculation of the effect of nonzero pressure gradients, turbulent flow, and blade twist, but includes only a simple coupling between streamlines. The resulting set of equations is solved using Keller's box scheme. The solution scheme is checked against available incompressible flow solutions and then applied to a NASA low aspect ratio transonic compressor stage for which extensive experimental and computational data are available. It is found that the three-dimensional boundary layer separates significantly sooner and has a much larger influence on rotor performance than would be expected from a two-dimensional analysis.

Thompkins, W. T., Jr.↗