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At least 325 records · Page 18

Testing of UH-60A helicopter transmission in NASA Lewis 2240-kW (3000-hp) facility

The U.S. Army's UH-60A Black Hawk 2240-kW (3000-hp) class, twin-engine helicopter transmission was tested at the NASA Lewis Research Center. The vibration and efficiency test results will be used to enhance the data base for similar-class helicopters. Most of the data were obtained for a matrix of test conditions of 50 to 100 percent of rated rotor speed and 20 to 100 percent of rated input power. The transmission's mechanical efficiency at 100 percent of rated power was 97.3 and 97.5 percent with its inlet oil maintained at 355 and 372 K (180 and 210 F), respectively. The highest vibration reading was 72 g's rms at the upper housing side wall. Other vibration levels measured near the gear meshes are reported.

Mitchell, A. M.↗

Effect of interference fits on roller bearing fatigue life

An analysis was performed to determine the effects of inner-ring speed and press fits on roller bearing fatigue life. The effects of the resultant hoop and radial stresses on the principal stresses were considered. The maximum shear stresses below the Hertzian contact were determined for different conditions of inner-ring speed and load, and were applied to a conventional roller bearing life analysis. The effect of mean stress was determined using Goodman diagram approach. Hoop stresses caused by press fits and centrifugal force can reduce bearing life by as much as 90 percent. Use of a Goodman diagram predicts life reduction of 20 to 30 percent. The depth of the maximum shear stress remains virtually unchanged.

Coe, Harold H.↗

An electronic scanner of pressure for wind tunnel models

An electronic scanner of pressure (ESOP) has been developed by NASA Ames Research Center for installation in wind tunnel models. An ESOP system consists of up to 20 pressure modules (PMs), each with 48 pressure transducers and a heater, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter module, a microprocessor, a data controller, a monitor unit, a control and processing unit, and a heater controller. The PMs and the A/D converter module are sized to be installed in the models tested in the Ames Aerodynamics Division wind tunnels. A unique feature of the pressure module is the lack of moving parts such as a pneumatic switch used in other systems for in situ calibrations. This paper describes the ESOP system and the results of the initial testing of the system. The initial results indicate the system meets the original design goal of 0.15 percent accuracy.

Kauffman, Ronald C.↗

Computer Analysis Of High-Speed Roller Bearings

High-speed cylindrical roller-bearing analysis program (CYBEAN) developed to compute behavior of cylindrical rolling-element bearings at high speeds and with misaligned shafts. With program, accurate assessment of geometry-induced roller preload possible for variety of out-ring and housing configurations and loading conditions. Enables detailed examination of bearing performance and permits exploration of causes and consequences of bearing skew. Provides general capability for assessment of designs of bearings supporting main shafts of engines. Written in FORTRAN IV.

Coe, H.↗

Predictions of F-111 TACT aircraft buffet response and correlations of fluctuating pressures measured on aluminum and steel models and the aircraft

Results of buffet research that was conducted as part of the joint USAF/NASA F-111 TACT Research Program are presented. The correlation of wind tunnel and flight measurements of buffet excitation showed that there generally was good agreement between measurements of pressure fluctuations on the models and aircraft in regions of separated flow. At shock-wave boundaries of the separated flow, correlations of pressure fluctuations were not so good, due to Reynolds number and static elastic effects. The buffet prediction method, which applies a forcing function that is obtained by real-time integration of pressure time histories with the natural modes, is described. The generalized forces, including the effects of wing and tail, correlations of predicted and measured damping, and correlations of predicted and measured buffet response are presented. All presented data are for a Mach number of 0.8 with wing-sweep angles of 26 and 35 deg for a range of angles-of-attack that include buffet onset to high intensity buffeting. Generally, the buffet predictions were considered to be quite good particularly in light of past buffet-prediction experience.

Coe, Charles F.↗

Results of NASA/Army transmission research

Since 1970 the NASA Lewis Research Center and the U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command have shared an interest in advancing the technology for helicopter propulsion systems. In particular, that portion of the program that applies to the drive train and its various mechanical components are outlined. The major goals of the program were (and continue to be) to increase the life, reliability, and maintainability, reduce the weight, noise, and vibration, and maintain the relatively high mechanical efficiency of the gear train. Major historical milestones are reviewed, significant advances in technology for bearings, gears, and transmissions are discussed, and the outlook for the future is presented. The reference list is comprehensive.

Coy, John J.↗

Computer-aided design analysis of 57-mm, angular-contact, cryogenic turbopump bearings

The Space Shuttle main engine high-pressure oxygen turbopumps have not experienced the sevice life required of them. This insufficiency has been due in part to the shortened life of the bearings. To improve the life of the existing turbopump bearings, an effort is under way to investigate bearing modifications that could be retrofitted into the present bearing cavity. Several bearing parameters were optimized using the computer program SHABERTH, which performs a thermomechanical simulation of a load support system. The computer analysis showed that improved bearing performance is feasible if low friction coefficients can be attained. Bearing geometries were optimized considering heat generation, equilibrium temperatures, and relative life. Thermal gradients through the bearings were found to be lower with liquid lubrication than with solid film lubrication, and a liquid oxygen coolant flowrate of approximately 4.0 kg/s was found to be optimal. This paper describes the analytical modeling used to determine these feasible modifications to improve bearing performance.

Armstrong, Elizabeth S.↗

Low-speed wind-tunnel test of a STOL supersonic-cruise fighter concept

A wind-tunnel investigation was conducted to examine the low-speed static stability and control characteristics of a 0.10 scale model of a STOL supersonic cruise fighter concept. The concept, referred to as a twin boom fighter, was designed as a STOL aircraft capable of efficient long range supersonic cruise. The configuration name is derived from the long twin booms extending aft of the engine to the twin vertical tails which support a high center horizontal tail. The propulsion system features a two dimensional thrust vectoring exhaust nozzle which is located so that the nozzle hinge line is near the aircraft center of gravity. This arrangement is intended to allow large thrust vector angles to be used to obtain significant values of powered lift, while minimizing pitching moment trim changes. Low speed stability and control information was obtained over an angle of attack range including the stall. A study of jet induced power effects was included.

Coe, Paul L., Jr.↗

Helicopter transmission research at NASA Lewis Research Center

A joint helicopter transmission research program between NASA Lewis Research Center and the U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command has existed since 1970. Program goals are to reduce weight and noise and to increase life and reliability. Reviewed are significant advances in technology for gears and transmissions and the experimental facilities at NASA Lewis for helicopter transmission testing are described. A description of each of the rigs is presented along with some significant results from the experiments.

Coy, John J.↗

An investigation of the causes of failure of flexible thermal protection materials in an aerodynamic environment

Tests of small panels of advanced flexible reusable surface insulation (AFRSI) were conducted using a small wind tunnel that was designed to simulate Space Shuttle Orbiter entry mean-flow and pulsating aerodynamic loads. The wind tunnel, with a 3 inch wide by 1.75 inch high by 7.5 inch long test section, proved to be capable of continuous flow at dynamic pressures q near 580 psf with fluctuating pressures over 2 psi RMS at an excitation frequency f sub E of 200 Hz. For this investigation, however, the wind tunnel was used to test entry-temperature preconditioned and heat-cleaned AFRSI at q = 280 psf, Prms was nearly equal to 1.2 psi and f sub E = 200 Hz. The objective of these tests was to determine the mechanism of failure of AFRSI at Orbiter entry conditions. Details of the test apparatus and test results are presented.

Coe, Charles F.↗

Comparison of predicted and measured temperatures of UH-60A helicopter transmission

The 2109-kW (2828-hp) UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter transmission was one of the transmissions used to obtain an experimental data base. Component improvements or new transmission concepts can thus be evaluated by comparison with the established data. Results of efficiency and vibration tests of the UH-60A have been reported previously. In this investigation the transmission was instrumented internally and tested over a range of operating conditions. The speed was varied from 50 to 100 percent of the full rated value, and the torque was varied from 10 to 100 percent of the full rated value. Temperatures of internal bearings and gears were measured. The computer program Planetsys was used to simulate the thermal performance of this transmission. The calculated temperatures were then compared with the corresponding measured values. The highest measured temperature was 405 K (270 F) on the outer race of the high-speed input shaft roller bearing, at the 100-percent power condition. In general, the predicted temperatures compared very well with the measured values, most of them being within 5 kelvin (9 F). Specifically, the temperatures predicted for the single-row spherical roller planetary bearing averaged only about 4 kelvin (8 F) lower than the highest measured value.

Coe, Harold H.↗

Low-speed wind-tunnel investigation of the flight dynamic characteristics of an advanced turboprop business/commuter aircraft configuration

An investigation was conducted to determine the low-speed flight dynamic behavior of a representative advanced turboprop business/commuter aircraft concept. Free-flight tests were conducted in the NASA Langley Research Center's 30- by 60-Foot Tunnel. In support of the free-flight tests, conventional static, dynamic, and free-to-roll oscillation tests were performed. Tests were intended to explore normal operating and post stall flight conditions, and conditions simulating the loss of power in one engine.

Coe, Paul L., Jr.↗

Bearing optimization for SSME HPOTP application

The space shuttle main engine (SSME) high-pressure oxygen turbopumps (HPOTP) have not experienced the service life required of them. To improve the life of the existing turbopump bearings, modifications to the bearings that could be retrofitted into the present bearing cavity are being investigated. Several bearing parameters were optimized using the computer program SHABERTH, which performs a thermomechanical simulation of a load support system. The computer analysis showed that improved bearing performance is feasible if low friction coefficients can be attained. Bearing geometries were optimized considering heat generation, equilibrium temperatures, and relative life. Two sets of curvatures were selected from the optimization: an inner-raceway curvature of 0.54, an outer-raceway curvature of 0.52, and an inner-raceway curvature of 0.55, an outer-raceway curvature of 0.53. A contact angle of 16 deg was also selected. Thermal gradients through the bearings were found to be lower with liquid lubrication than with solid film lubrication. As the coolant flowrate through the bearing increased, the ball temperature decreased but at a continuously decreasing rate. The optimum flowrate was approximately 4 kg/s. The analytical modeling used to determine these feasible modifications to improve bearing performance is described.

Armstrong, Elizabeth S.↗

Exploratory wind tunnel investigation of the stability and control characteristics of a three-surface, forward-swept wing advanced turboprop model

The purpose of the present investigation was to parametrically study the stability and control characteristics of a forward-swept wing three-surface turboprop model through an extended angle of attack range, including the deep-stall region. As part of a joint research program between North Carolina State University and NASA Langley Research Center, a low-speed wind tunnel investigation was conducted with a three-surface, forward-swept wing, aft-mounted, twin-pusher propeller, model, representative of an advanced turboprop configuration. The tests were conducted in the NASA Langley 12-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel. The model parameters varied in the test were horizontal tail location, canard size, sweep and location, and wing position. The model was equipped with air turbines, housed within the nacelles and driven by compressed air, to model turboprop power effects. A three-surface, forward-swept wing configuration that provided satisfactory static longitudinal and lateral/directional stability was identified. The three-surface configuration was found to have greater longitudinal control and increased center of gravity range relative to a conventional (two-surface) design. The test showed that power had a large favorable effect on stability and control about all three axis in the post-stall regime.

Coe, Paul L., Jr.↗

An assessment of wind tunnel test data on flexible thermal protection materials and results of new fatigue tests of threads

Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (AFRSI) was developed as a replacement for the low-temperature (white) tiles on the Space Shuttle. The first use of the AFRSI for an Orbiter flight was on the OMS POD of Orbiter (OV-099) for STS-6. Post flight examination after STS-6 showed that damage had occurred to the AFRSI during flight. The failure anomaly between previous wind-tunnel tests and STS-6 prompted a series of additional wind tunnel tests to gain an insight as to the cause of the failure. An assessment of all the past STS-6 wind tunnel tests pointed out the sensitivity of the test results to scaling of dynamic loads due to the difference of boundary layer thickness, and the material properties as a result of exposure to heating. The thread component of the AFRSI was exposed to fatigue testing using an apparatus that applied pulsating aerodynamic loads on the threads similar to the loads caused by an oscillating shock. Comparison of the mean values of the number-of-cycles to failure showed that the history of the thread was the major factor in its performance. The thread and the wind tunnel data suggests a mechanism of failure for the AFRSI.

Coe, Charles F.↗

Predictions of F-111 TACT aircraft buffet response

A summary is presented for the prediction method development and correlations of predicted response with flight test measurements. The prediction method was based on refinements to the method described by Cunningham. One improvement made use of direct time integration of the correlated fluctuating pressure data to obtain buffet excitation for the various modes of interest. Another improvement incorporated a hybrid technique for scaling measured wind tunnel damping data to full-scale for the modes of interest. A third improvement made use of the diagonalized form of the fully coupled equations of motion. Finally, a mechanism was described for explaining an apparent coupling between the aircraft wing torsion modes and shock induced trailing edge separation that led to very high wing motion on the aircraft that was not observed on the wind tunnel model.

Cunningham, Atlee M., Jr.↗

Maximum life spur gear design

Optimization procedures allow one to design a spur gear reduction for maximum life and other end use criteria. A modified feasible directions search algorithm permits a wide variety of inequality constraints and exact design requirements to be met with low sensitivity to initial guess values. The optimization algorithm is described, and the models for gear life and performance are presented. The algorithm is compact and has been programmed for execution on a desk top computer. Two examples are presented to illustrate the method and its application.

Savage, M.↗