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At least 415 records · Page 23

The effects of leading-edge serrations on reducing flow unsteadiness about airfoils, an experimental and analytical investigation

High frequency surface pressure measurements were obtained from wind-tunnel tests over the Reynolds number range 1.2 times one million to 6.2 times one million on a rectangular wing of NACA 63-009 airfoil section. Measurements were also obtained with a wide selection of leading-edge serrations added to the basic airfoil. Under a two-dimensional laminar bubble very close to the leading edge of the basic airfoil there is a large apatial peak in rms pressure. Frequency analysis of the pressure signals in this region show a large, high-frequency energy peak which is interpreted as an oscillation in size and position of the bubble. The serrations divide the bubble into segments and reduce the peak rms pressures. A low Reynolds number flow visualization test on a hydrofoil in water was also conducted. A von Karman vortex street was found trailing from the rear of the foil. Its frequency is at a much lower Strouhal number than in the high Reynolds number experiment, and is related to the trailing-edge and boundary-layer thicknesses.

Schwind, R. G.↗

Analysis of the Flow About Delta Wings with Leading Edge Separation at Supersonic Speeds

A research program was conducted to develop an improved theoretical flow model for the flow about sharp edge delta wings with leading-edge separation at supersonic speeds. The flow model incorporates a representation of the secondary separation region which occurs just inboard of the leading edge on such wings and is based on a slender-wing theory whereby the full three-dimensional problem is reduced to a quasi two-dimensional problem in the cross-flow plane. The secondary separation region was modeled by a surface distribution of singularities or a linearized type of cavity representation. The primary vortex and separation were modeled by a concentrated vortex and cut in the cross-flow potential which represents its feeding sheet. The cross-flow solutions for the cavity model were obtained, but these solutions have physical significance only in a very restricted range of angle of attack. The reasons for the failure of the flow model are discussed. The analysis is presented so that other interested researchers may critically review the work.

Nenni, J. P.↗

An experimental investigation of leading-edge vortex augmentation by blowing

A wind tunnel test was conducted to determine the effects of over-the-wing blowing as a means of augmenting the leading-edge vortex flow of several pointed-tip, sharp-edged planforms. Arrow, delta, and diamond wings with leading-edge sweeps of 30 and 45 degrees were mounted on a body-of-revolution fuselage and tested in a low-speed wind tunnel at a Mach number of 0.2. Nozzle location data, pitch data, and flow-visualization pictures were obtained for a range of blowing rates. Results show pronounced increases in vortex lift due to the blowing.

Bradley, R. G.↗

A quantitative study of the orientation bias of some edge detector schemes

The evaluation of a particular set of edge detection schemes is described. The results obtained are compared with those obtained from an edge detection scheme using a texture oriented approach. The orientational bias of these schemes is emphasized. Improved qualitative observations are reported and a comparison of the evaluation method with another edge detection evaluation method is presented.

Fram, J. R.↗

Pressure measurements on the leading edge of a swept wing at Mach 2.2

Detailed pressure measurements were made on a flat semispan swept wing with a rounded leading edge at Mach number 2.2 through a range of Reynolds numbers. Pressure orifices were distributed in the streamwise direction at five spanwise stations on the leading edge and on the upper and lower surfaces. No significant amount of leading-edge suction was found, but the pressures and integrated normal forces on the upper and lower surfaces indicate the presence of a vortex lift.

Sorrells, R. B., III↗

Low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil sections with rounded trailing edges in forward and reverse flow

Low-speed wind-tunnel tests were conducted to determine the two-dimensional aerodynamic characteristics of 6-, 12-, and 18-percent-thick airfoil sections with rounded trailing edges in both forward and reverse flow. The shapes incorporated camber with both the leading and trailing edges rounded to provide reasonable aerodynamic performance with either edge directed toward the free-stream flow. The tests were conducted with the airfoils in both normal and reverse orientations relative to the free stream. The Mach number was varied from 0.16 to 0.36 and the angle of attack was varied from minus 10 to 24 million. Reynolds number, based on the airfoil chord, was varied from about 1.0 to 12.0 million.

Beasley, W. D.↗

Effects of leading edge sweep angle and design lift coefficient on performance of a modified arrow wing at a design Mach number of 2.6

Wing models were tested in the high-speed section of the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel to study the effects of the leading-edge sweep angle and the design lift coefficient on aerodynamic performance and efficiency. The models had leading-edge sweep angles of 69.44 deg, 72.65 deg, and 75.96 deg which correspond to values of the design Mach-number-sweep-angle parameter (beta cotangent A) sub DES of 0.6, 0.75, and 0.9, respectively. For each sweep angle, camber surfaces having design lift coefficients of 0,0.08, and 0.12 at a design Mach number of 2.6 were generated. The wind-tunnel tests were conducted at Mach numbers of 2.3, 2.6, and 2.96 with a stagnation temperature of 338.7 K (150 F) and a Reynolds number per meter of 9.843 times 10 to the 6th power. The results of the tests showed that only a moderate sweeping of the wing leading edge aft of the Mach line along with a small-to-moderate amount of camber and twist was needed to significantly improve the zero-lift (flat camber surface) wing performance and efficiency.

Mack, R. J.↗

Wind tunnel investigation of the wake near the trailing edge of a distributed upper-surface-blown flap

An investigation of the flow field near the trailing edge of a distributed upper-surface-blown propulsive-lift transport was conducted in the Langley V/STOL tunnel. This model used blowing slots across the entire wing span to produce a thin jet efflux near the leading edge and at the knee of the flap. Velocity surveys of the flow field were taken near the trailing edge of the model, and are presented as plots of the individual velocity vectors. The test conditions include an angle-of-attack range from 4 deg to 16 deg and a thrust coefficient range from 0 to 1.3 at a free-stream dynamic pressure of 814 Newton per square meter (17 pounds per square foot).

Forsyth, D. R.↗

Experimental evaluation of joint designs for a space-shuttle orbiter ablative leading edge

The thermal performance of two types of ablative leading-edge joints for a space-shuttle orbiter were tested and evaluated. Chordwise joints between ablative leading-edge segments, and spanwise joints between ablative leading-edge segments and reusable surface insulation tiles were exposed to simulated shuttle heating environments. The data show that the thermal performance of models with chordwise joints to be as good as jointless models in simulated ascent-heating and orbital cold-soak environments. The suggestion is made for additional work on the joint seals, and, in particular, on the effects of heat-induced seal-material surface irregularities on the local flow.

Tompkins, S. S.↗

Analysis of the effects on life of leading-edge holes in an airfoil subjected to arbitrary spanwise and chordwise temperature distributions

The effects of temperature gradients, cooling-hole rim and bulk metal temperatures, and mechanical stress were investigated by using a finite-element structural analysis of a symmetrical airfoil with and without leading-edge holes. The results indicate that leading-edge film cooling is beneficial when large chordwise temperature gradients exist and if the cooling-hole rim temperatures are above the bulk metal temperature. The effects of film cooling at other locations on the airfoil were not considered, and the relative merits of convection or film cooling at the leading edge, in terms of allowable turbine inlet temperature or coolant flow requirements, were not evaluated.

Kaufman, A.↗

The problem of edge cracks in an infinite strip

The elastostatic plane problem of an infinite strip containing two symmetrically located internal cracks perpendicular to the boundary is formulated in terms of a singular integral equation with the derivative of the crack surface displacement as the density function. The solution of the problem is obtained for various crack geometries and for uniaxial tension applied to the strip away from the crack region. The limiting case of the edge cracks is then considered in some detail. The fundamental function of the integral equation is obtained and a numerical technique for solving the singular integral equations with this particular type of fundamental function which is characteristic of the edge cracks is described. The stress-intensity factor for the complete range of net ligament-to-width ratio is calculated. The results also include the solution of the edge crack problem in an elastic half plane.

Gupta, G. D.↗

Experimental evaluation of trailing edge and incidence fluctuation noise theories

Tests were conducted to evaluate conflicting theories for trailing edge noise and for incidence fluctuation noise. A flat-plate airfoil with flush-mounted surface pressure transducers was tested in an anechoic wind tunnel at velocities from 31.5 to 177 m/sec and nominal 4 and 6% grid-generated turbulence levels. In one series of runs, the airfoil was faired into the tunnel nozzle and extended beyond the nozzle lip for studies of trailing edge noise without a leading edge and with flow on only one side. Such noise was found to vary with velocity to the fifth power and turbulence level squared as predicted by Ffowcs Williams and Hall (1970) and by Chase (1972). Power spectral density at high frequencies decayed approximately inversely with frequency to the 10/3 power as predicted by Chase. The data were poorly predicted by Hayden's correlation (1969, 1972).

Fink, M. R.↗

Trailing edge noise

Shadowgraphic observations of the flow structure of a wall jet downstream of the trailing edge of a flat plate were carried out. Shadowgraphs obtained at jet exit Mach number 0.3 to 0.8 consistently showed an orderly large oscillatory flow structure. It is believed that these large scale disturbances are the result of flow instabilities. It is also believed that these orderly disturbances are responsible for generating the dominant part of trailing edge noise either directly or indirectly. The interaction of sound generated by these coherent oscillatory flow disturbances and the plate was investigated theoretically. It is found that the farfield noise directivity is strongly influenced by diffraction of sound at the leading edge of the plate.

Tam, C. K. W.↗

An investigation of the edge-sliding mode in fracture mechanics

A boundary collocation procedure has been applied to the Williams stress function to determine the elastic stress distribution for the crack tip region of a finite, edge-cracked plate subjected to mode II loading at the crack tips. The asymmetric specimen selected was particularly suitable for the determination of plane strain fracture toughness for mode II loading. Numerical solutions for stress intensity factors for the edge-sliding mode obtained by the boundary collocation method were in close agreement with values obtained from photoelastic experiments. Fracture tests of several compact shear specimens of 2024-T4 aluminum were conducted in order to experimentally investigate the behavior of the edge-sliding mode. In each case a brittle shear failure was observed and mode II fracture toughness values were obtained. The average value for K-IIc obtained from two tests was 39.5 ksi radical (in). No K-Ic data for 2024-T4 were available for comparison purposes; however, K-Ic values for a similar alloy, 2024-T351, have been reported as 34 ksi radical (in) which is only about 15 per cent below the corresponding K-IIc value.

Jones, D. L.↗

Asymptotic theory of two-dimensional trailing-edge flows

Problems of laminar and turbulent viscous interaction near trailing edges of streamlined bodies are considered. Asymptotic expansions of the Navier-Stokes equations in the limit of large Reynolds numbers are used to describe the local solution near the trailing edge of cusped or nearly cusped airfoils at small angles of attack in compressible flow. A complicated inverse iterative procedure, involving finite-difference solutions of the triple-deck equations coupled with asymptotic solutions of the boundary values, is used to accurately solve the viscous interaction problem. Results are given for the correction to the boundary-layer solution for drag of a finite flat plate at zero angle of attack and for the viscous correction to the lift of an airfoil at incidence. A rational asymptotic theory is developed for treating turbulent interactions near trailing edges and is shown to lead to a multilayer structure of turbulent boundary layers. The flow over most of the boundary layer is described by a Lighthill model of inviscid rotational flow. The main features of the model are discussed and a sample solution for the skin friction is obtained and compared with the data of Schubauer and Klebanoff for a turbulent flow in a moderately large adverse pressure gradient.

Melnik, R. E.↗

Preservation of wing leading edge suction at the plane of symmetry as a factor in wing-fuselage design

Most fuselage geometries cover a portion of the wing leading edge near the plane of symmetry, and it seems reasonable to expect that a large fraction of the leading edge suction which would be developed by the covered wing at high angles of attack is not developed on the fuselage. This is one of the reasons that the Oswald span efficiency factor for the wing body combination fails to approach the value predicted by lifting line theory for the isolated wing. Some traditional and recent literature on wing-body interference is discussed and high Reynolds number data on wing-body-nacelle drag are reviewed. An exposed central leading edge geometry has been developed for a sailplane configuration. Low Reynolds number tests have not validated the design concept.

Larrabee, E. E.↗

An improved method for the prediction of completely three-dimensional aerodynamic load distributions of configurations with leading edge vortex separation

The application of a higher-order subsonic potential flow panel method to the solution of three-dimensional flow about wing and wing-body combinations with leading-edge vortex separation is presented. The governing equations are the linear flow differential equation and nonlinear boundary conditions which require that the flow be parallel to the wing and body surfaces and that the free vortex sheet, springing from the leading and trailing edges, be aligned with the local flow and support no pressure jump. The vortex core is modeled as a simple line vortex which receives vorticity from the free sheet through a connecting sheet. The Kutta condition is imposed on all appropriate edges of the wing. This set of nonlinear equations is solved by an iterative procedure. The Goethert rule accounts for compressibility. The method has been programmed for the CDC 6600. Delta wings, gothic wings, arrow wings, cambered wings, and wing with body have been analyzed. Initial studies involving variations of panel density, vortex sheet sizing, Jacobian update, and initial geometry demonstrate that the present method generally exhibits good convergence characteristics.

Rubbert, p. E.↗

Sound generated in the vicinity of the trailing edge of an upper surface blown flap

Far-field noise data indicated that for practical upper surface blown flap configurations, the noise radiated below the flap is dominated by the noise generated in the vicinity of the trailing edge. Sound field by turbulent mixing in the trailing edge wake is investigated experimentally and theoretically. Hot-wire measurements were made downstream of the trailing edge to determine the gross turbulence mixing characteristics of the flow. This information is used as input to a theoretical analysis of the sound field. Favorable agreement is found between predicted and measured far-field noise directivities at various frequencies and noise power spectra at various directions.

Tam, C. K. W.↗