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At least 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Boundary layer transition effects on flow separation around V/STOL engine inlets at high incidence

Numerical methods for calculating laminar and turbulent boundary layer development around vertical-short take off and landing engine inlets at high incidence angles are investigated. Various transition models were compared and evaluated in calculations off flow separation bound inside the inlet. Results of the transition effects on the boundary layer characteristics at onset of separation for two types of engine inlet geometries are presented. Some of the numerical results are compared with existing wind-tunnel test data for scaled inlet models to demonstrate the effects of transition models in the numerical scheme. The effects of transition modeling on the boundary layer development are illustrated for typical engine operating conditions.

Chou, D. C.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Separation and Transition on a Cone-Cylinder-Flare: Computational Investigations

Base flow computation and stability analysis were conducted for hypersonic flow over a cone-cylinder-flare (CCF) geometry for conditions that correspond to the experimental runs carried out in three wind tunnels. Owing to the presence of an attached boundary layer, a separation bubble induced by a shock-boundary layer interaction, and a reattachment region, the chosen flow configuration is physically rich. The complexity of this flowfield encompasses a combination of convective instabilities developing on the cone, global instabilities in the separation bubble, and shear-layer modes and streaks in the reattachment region. Thus, the selected CCF configuration provides the opportunity for a comprehensive comparison of the currently available methodologies for analyzing boundary layer instabilities. Various tools are used for the analysis, including global stability codes as well as convective instability analyses based on a local theory, a weakly non-parallel analysis, and tools that are applicable to strongly non-parallel flows. The paper presents a comparison of the convective instability characteristics based on different methodologies, such as linear stability theory (LST), the harmonic form of linearized Navier-Stokes equations (HLNSE), and resolvent analysis. The CCF configuration provided an effective framework for conducting a detailed cross-validation of this type, which had not yet been addressed in existing literature. This document is accompanied by a companion paper that is focused on the experimental aspects of the CCF configuration. Both papers are being presented in a dedicated session that highlights the research activities of the NATO STO Research Task Group AVT-346.

Boundary Layer Transition↗
NASA NTRS1980

An experimental and analytical investigation of a hypersonic cruise vehicle at Mach 6

Flow field properties over a hypersonic vehicle are measured and compared with results from the numerical analysis of inviscid supersonic flow theory. Good agreement between theory and experiment at zero angle of attack, and significant discrepancy at angles of attack greater than or equal to 5 deg are found. The experiments indicate that turbulent boundary layer without flow separation exists over the model surface at zero angle of attack. Vortex lift-off, flow separation, and shock boundary layer interaction occur over the leeward surface, and near the wing-fuselage junction with angles of attack greater than or equal to 5 deg. Improvements of the existing numerical method to compute hypersonic cruise vehicle flow field at large angle of attack are presented.

Wang, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Development of a boundary-layer-type solver based on simultaneous iteration technique for axisymmetric separated flows

A boundary-layer-type solver is developed for the numerical solution of axisymmetric separated flows. A new fully implicit coupling scheme for the viscous and inviscid regions is demonstrated. This fully implicit coupling technique is similar to the work of Carter, Veldman, and an extension of an earlier work of Halim and Hafez. A comparison is made for the convergence rate using this new fully implicit coupling technique and the semiimplicit coupling of Halim and Hafez. Numerical results using the fully implicit coupling are obtained for laminar incompressible separated flows, including a boattail and a series of trough geometries. Also, the near-wake flow problem is considered using the present formulation. A clear conclusion of this investigation is that the present scheme using the fully implicit coupling method converges at a faster rate than the semiimplicit coupling and the partially parabolized Navier-Stokes (PPNS) procedures.

Halim, A. A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1951

Investigation of Separation of the Turbulent Boundary Layer

An investigation was conducted on a turbulent boundary layer near a smooth surface with pressure gradients sufficient to cause flow separation. The reynolds number was high, but the speeds were entirely within the incompressible flow range. The investigation consisted of measurements of mean flow, three components of turbulence intensity, turbulent shearing stress, and correlations between two fluctuation components at a point and between the same component of different points. The results are given in the form of tables and graphs. The discussion deals first with separation and then with the more fundamental question of basic concepts of turbulent flow.

Schubauer, G B↗
NASA NTRS2019

Numerical Study of the Effect of Mean Three-Dimensionality on Turbulence in Adverse-Pressure-Gradient Boundary Layers

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is used to isolate the influence of sweep on a separating turbulent boundary layer. Attention here is limited to the behavior of the turbulence within the adverse-pressure-gradient (APG) region upstream of separation. Other regions and quantities are considered in Coleman, Rumsey & Spalart. The mean three-dimensionality and outer-layer inviscid skewing have only a slight effect upon the structure of the turbulence (measured by the relationship of the components of the Reynolds-stress tensor and the efficiency of the turbulence energy transfer) compared with that of the adverse pressure gradient, which dominates both the skewed and unskewed layers.

Coleman, G. N.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Visualization of boundary-layer development on turbomachine blades with liquid crystals

This report documents a study of the use of liquid crystals to visualize boundary layer development on a turbomachine blade. A turbine blade model in a linear cascade of blades was used for the tests involved. Details of the boundary layer development on the suction surface of the turbine blade model were known from previous research. Temperature sensitive and shear sensitive liquid crystals were tried as visual agents. The temperature sensitive crystals were very effective in their ability to display the location of boundary layer flow separation and reattachment. Visualization of natural transition from laminar to turbulent boundary layer flow with the temperature sensitive crystals was possible but subtle. The visualization of separated flow reattachment with the shear sensitive crystals was easily accomplished when the crystals were allowed to make a transition from the focal-conic to a Grandjean texture. Visualization of flow reattachment based on the selective reflection properties of shear sensitive crystals was achieved only marginally because of the larger surface shear stress and shear stress gradient levels required for more dramatic color differences.

Vanzante, Dale E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Experimental study of the use of vortex generators to reduce fluctuating pressure loads in shock wave turbulent boundary layer interactions

Fluctuating wall pressure measurements have been made in a separated shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction produced by an unswept compression corner in a Mach 5 flow. Wheeler doublet vortex generators were placed 15.8 boundary layer thicknesses upstream of the corner to study their effect on the fluctuating pressure loads produced by the translating separation shock. The vortex generators produced significant three-dimensionality in an otherwise two-dimensional interaction. They reduced the upstream influence and the length of the region of shock motion by 60% and 64%, respectively, decreased the maximum wall pressure rms by 23%, and shifted the fluctuations to a higher frequency band. The maximum fraction of energy in the 100-500 Hz frequency band is decreased by 11%. These changes are due to a fuller boundary layer profile, a weaker separation shock, and increased boundary layer turbulence causing increased separation shock jitter.

Barter, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Theoretical methods and design studies for NLF and HLFC swept wings at subsonic and supersonic speeds

Laminarization of the boundary layer on the surface of aircraft wings can be accomplished by the use of concepts such as Natural Laminar Flow (NLF), Laminar-Flow Control (LFC), and Hybrid Laminar-Flow Control (HLFC). Several integral boundary-layer methods were developed for the prediction of laminar, transition, and separating turbulent boundary layers. These methods were developed for use at either subsonic or supersonic speeds, have small computer execution times, and are simple to use. The theoretical equations and assumptions which form the basis of the boundary-layer method, are briefly outlined and the results of several correlation cases with exciting experimental data are presented.

Goradia, Suresh H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Crossflow instability control on a swept-wing: Preliminary studies

The pressure distribution on a swept wing causes the streamlines at the edge of the boundary layer to be curved. This pressure gradient normal to the external streamline creates a velocity component normal to the external streamline within the boundary layer which is referred to as the crossflow velocity. Because the crossflow velocity profile perpendicular to the wing surface has an inflection point, the profile is unstable. The stationary instability mode takes the form of crossflow vortices. Under these conditions, the boundary layer on the wing is extremely unstable and transition to turbulent flow takes place much closer to the leading edge of the wing than it would on an unswept wing. Higher skin friction drag is associated with turbulent flow, and so better aircraft performance could be obtained if the crossflow could be eliminated One method of controlling crossflow that is being investigated is boundary-layer suction. An extensive airfoil suction experiment in the 8 feet Transonic Pressure Tunnel (TPT) at NASA Langley Research Center will begin late in 1994. Because of the size, complexity, and expense associated with this test, a number of 'risk-reduction' tests are currently being conducted. The 20 x 28 in. Shear Flow Control Tunnel at NASA Langley is being used for some of these tests. Prior to the summer of 1994, a flat plate with a swept leading edge was installed in the 20 x 28 in. tunnel, with a displacement body mounted on the tunnel ceiling that created a pressure distribution on the plate similar to the pressure distribution on a swept wing. The flow over the plate was investigated during the summer of 1994 using a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) system. The LDV measurements indicated the possible presence of multiple disturbance modes, a rarely-seen phenomena since, in most tests, one disturbance mode dominates. The possible existence of multiple disturbance modes in the flat plate boundary layer, however, means that the flow in the 20 x 28 in. tunnel is of interest itself, and will be investigated more thoroughly in the future. With a view to these investigations, the boundary layer traverse mechanism in the 20 x 28 in. tunnel was modified to improve its performance, and strain gauges were mounted on the traverse in order to monitor its deflection during a test. Other preliminary work conducted in the 20 x 28 in. tunnel included the use of an infrared camera system. Previous work with this system showed that transition indeed could be detected, but the signal produced by the crossflow vortices was too weak to be detected. It was hoped that spraying the flat plate with naphthalene would augment the heat transfer associated with the crossflow vortices so that they would show up in a IR image; however, experiments showed that this would not work. Another set of tests was conducted in the 20 x 28 in. tunnel to determine the tripping requirements for a set of airfoil-shaped struts that will be used in the 8 feet TPT experiment. Since the Reynolds number associated with these struts is small, a laminar boundary layer would separate early, causing large fluctuations in the flow field. A turbulent boundary layer would remain attached further back, but tripping from laminar to turbulent flow at low Reynolds number is very difficult. However, trip strip configurations were found that should effectively trip the boundary layer at the required conditions. Currently underway is an investigation of the data acquisition requirements for the 8 feet TPT experiment, with the purpose of the finding the minimum amount of data needed to characterize sufficiently the swept-wing boundary layer. This study is being conducted using a numerically generated data set.

Bridges, David H.↗
NASA NTRS2015

RACORO Continental Boundary Layer Cloud Investigations: 3. Separation of Parameterization Biases in Single-Column Model CAM5 Simulations of Shallow Cumulus

Climatically important low-level clouds are commonly misrepresented in climate models. The FAst-physics System TEstbed and Research (FASTER) Project has constructed case studies from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility's Southern Great Plain site during the RACORO aircraft campaign to facilitate research on model representation of boundary-layer clouds. This paper focuses on using the single-column Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (SCAM5) simulations of a multi-day continental shallow cumulus case to identify specific parameterization causes of low-cloud biases. Consistent model biases among the simulations driven by a set of alternative forcings suggest that uncertainty in the forcing plays only a relatively minor role. In-depth analysis reveals that the model's shallow cumulus convection scheme tends to significantly under-produce clouds during the times when shallow cumuli exist in the observations, while the deep convective and stratiform cloud schemes significantly over-produce low-level clouds throughout the day. The links between model biases and the underlying assumptions of the shallow cumulus scheme are further diagnosed with the aid of large-eddy simulations and aircraft measurements, and by suppressing the triggering of the deep convection scheme. It is found that the weak boundary layer turbulence simulated is directly responsible for the weak cumulus activity and the simulated boundary layer stratiform clouds. Increased vertical and temporal resolutions are shown to lead to stronger boundary layer turbulence and reduction of low-cloud biases.

parameterization↗
NASA NTRS1984

Simulation of blunt-fin-induced shock wave and turbulent boundary-layer interaction

A supersonic flow over a blunt fin mounted on a flat plate is numerically simulated. The fin shock causes the boundary layer to separate and results in a complicated, three-dimensional shockwave and boundary-layer interaction. The computed result is in good agreement with the measured pressure on the fin and the flat plate. The main features, such as peak pressure on the fin leading edge and a double peak pressure on the plate, are closely predicted. The role of the horseshoe vortex is discussed. The vortex leads to the development of high-speed flow, and, hence, low-pressure regions on the fin and the plate. Different thicknesses of the incoming boundary layer have been studied. Varying the thicknesses by an order of magnitude shows that the size of the horseshoe vortex and therefore the spatial extent of the interaction are inviscid-dominated, and are weakly dependent on the Reynolds number. Colored graphics are used to show details of the interaction flow field.

Hung, C.-M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Theoretical investigations, and correlative studies for NLF, HLFC, and LFC swept wings at subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds

Attention is given to the results of theory/experiment-correlation studies for natural laminar flow, LFC, and hybrid-LFC airfoils at subsonic and supersonic Mach numbers. The method of characteristics, integral compressible boundary layer methods for infinitely swept wings, and a method for prediction of separating turbulent boundary layer characteristics. The integral boundary layer methods are found to be successful at predicting both transonic and supersonic transition phenomena. Computations for wings with 0-50 deg sweep angle, Reynolds number range of 1-30 million, and with and without LFC, are in good agreement with experimental data.

Goradia, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A Navier-Stokes study of shock-boundary layer interaction and flow separation inside a transonic compressor

A numerical study to evaluate a three-dimensional Navier-Stokes method as a tool to predict the detailed flowfield inside a low-aspect-ratio compressor at off-design rotor speed has been conducted. The flow field inside a state-of-the-art transonic compressor is used for the purpose of the evaluation. The experimental study shows that the rotor has higher peak efficiency at 90 percent rotor speed than at 100 percent rotor speed. The details of the flow structure inside the low-aspect-ratio compressor (three-dimensional shock structure, shock-boundary layer interaction, tip leakage vortex, etc.) and the overall aerodynamic performance at various operating conditions are numerically analyzed, and the results are compared with the available experimental data. The numerical results also indicate that the rotor has higher peak efficiency at 90 percent rotor speed than at 100 percent rotor speed. This is due to the reduced shock strength and the reduced interactions among passage shock, tip-clearance vortex and blade boundary layer.

Hah, Chunill↗
NASA NTRS1991

An efficient solution technique for shockwave-boundary layer interactions with flow separation and slot suction effects

An efficient method for computing two-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes flow fields is presented. The solution algorithm is a fully-implicit approximate factorization technique based on an unsymmetric line Gauss-Seidel splitting of the equation system Jacobian matrix. Convergence characteristics are improved by the addition of acceleration techniques based on Shamanskii's method for nonlinear equations and Broyden's quasi-Newton update. Characteristic-based differencing of the equations is provided by means of Van Leer's flux vector splitting. In this investigation, emphasis is placed on the fast and accurate computation of shock-wave-boundary layer interactions with and without slot suction effects. In the latter context, a set of numerical boundary conditions for simulating the transpiration flow in an open slot is devised. Both laminar and turbulent cases are considered, with turbulent closure provided by a modified Cebeci-Smith algebraic model. Comparisons with computational and experimental data sets are presented for a variety of interactions, and a fully-coupled simulation of a plenum chamber/inlet flowfield with shock interaction and suction is also shown and discussed.

Edwards, Jack R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Simulation of Blunt-Fin-Induced Shock-Wave and Turbulent Boundary-Layer Interaction

The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically for supersonic flow over a blunt fin mounted on a flat plate. The fin shock causes the boundary layer to separate. which results in a complicated, three-dimensional shock-wave and boundary-layer interaction. The computed results are in good agreement with the mean static pressure measured on the fin and the flat plate. The main features, such as peak pressure on the fin leading edge and a double peak on the plate. are predicted well. The role of the horseshoe vortex is discussed. This vortex leads to the development of high-speed flow and, hence, low-pressure regions on the fin and the plate. Different thicknesses of the incoming boundary layer have been studied. Varying the thicknesses by an order of magnitude shows that the size of the horseshoe vortex and, therefore, the spatial extent of the interaction are dominated by inviscid flow and only weakly dependent on the Reynolds number. Colored graphics are used to show details of the interaction flow field.

Hung, Ching-Mao↗
NASA NTRS1950

The Effect of the Inlet Mach Number and Inlet-boundary-layer Thickness on the Performance of a 23 Degree Conical-diffuser-tail-pipe Combination

An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of the inlet Mach number and entrance-boundary-layer thickness on the performance of a 23 degree 21-inch conical-diffuser - tail-pipe combination with a 2:1 area ratio. The air flows used in this investigation covered an inlet Mach number range from 0.17 to 0.89 and corresponding Reynolds numbers of 1,700,000 to 7,070,000. Results are reported for two inlet-boundary-layer thicknesses. Over the entire range of flows, the mean value of the inlet displacement thickness is about 0.034 inch for the thinner inlet boundary layer and about 0.170 inch for the case of the thicker inlet boundary layer. The performance of the diffuser - tail-pipe combination is presented together with examples of longitudinal static-pressure distribution and the results of boundary-layer pressure surveys made at six points along the diffuser wall. The results indicated a progressive diminution of the static-pressure recovery and a steady increase in the total-pressure losses as the inlet Mach number was increased for both inlet-boundary-layer thicknesses. The ratio of actual static-pressure rise to that theoretically possible was much less and the total-pressure losses were greater for the case of the thicker inlet boundary layer throughout the speed range investigated. With the thinner inlet boundary layer, flow separation occurred at the diffuser exit at all inlet Mach numbers.Unseparated flow alternating with separated flow was observed near the inlet at the higher velocities. For the case of the thicker inlet boundary layer, the origin of the separated region occurred in the vicinity of the inlet-duct-diffuser junction section at all Mach numbers.

Persh, Jerome↗
NASA NTRS2001

Experimental Investigation of Transition to Turbulence as Affected By Passing Wakes

This paper presents experimental results from a study of the effects of periodically passing wakes upon laminar-to-turbulent transition and separation in a low-pressure turbine passage. The test section geometry is designed to simulate unsteady wakes in turbine engines for studying their effects on boundary layers and separated flow regions over the suction surface by using a single suction surface and a single pressure surface to simulate a single turbine blade passage. Single-wire, thermal anemometry techniques are used to measure time-resolved and phase averaged, wall-normal profiles of velocity, turbulence intensity and intermittency at multiple streamwise locations over the turbine airfoil suction surface. These data are compared to steady-state wake-free data collected in the same geometry to identify the effects of wakes upon laminar-to-turbulent transition. Results are presented for flows with a Reynolds number based on suction surface length and stage exit velocity of 50,000 and an approach flow turbulence intensity of 2.5%. While both existing design and experimental data are primarily concerned with higher Reynolds number flows (Re greater than 100,000), recent advances in gas turbine engines, and the accompanying increase in laminar and transitional flow effects, have made low-Re research increasingly important. From the presented data, the effects of passing wakes on transition and separation in the boundary layer, due to both increased turbulence levels and varying streamwise pressure gradients are presented. The results show how the wakes affect transition. The wakes affect the flow by virtue of their difference in turbulence levels and scales from those of the free-stream and by virtue of their ensemble- averaged velocity deficits, relative to the free-stream velocity, and the concomitant changes in angle of attack and temporal pressure gradients. The relationships between the velocity oscillations in the freestream and the unsteady velocity profile shapes in the near-wall flow are described. In this discussion is support for the theory that bypass transition is a response of the near-wall viscous layer to pressure fluctuations imposed upon it from the free-stream flow. Recent transition models are based on that premise. The data also show a significant lag between when the wake is present over the surface and when transition begins.cous layer to pressure fluctuations imposed upon it from the free-stream flow. Recent transition models are based on that premise. The data also show a significant lag between when the wake is present over the surface and when transition begins.cous layer to pressure fluctuations imposed upon it from the free-stream flow. Recent transition models are based on that premise. The data also show a significant lag between when the wake is present over the surface and when transition begins.

Kaszeta, Richard W.↗