Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Angle of Attack”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 487 records · Page 27

The F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle: A High-Angle-of-Attack Testbed Aircraft

The F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle is the first thrust-vectoring testbed aircraft used to study the aerodynamics and maneuvering available in the poststall flight regime and to provide the data for validating ground prediction techniques. The aircraft includes a flexible research flight control system and full research instrumentation. The capability to control the vehicle at angles of attack up to 70 degrees is also included. This aircraft was modified by adding a pitch and yaw thrust-vectoring system. No significant problems occurred during the envelope expansion phase of the program. This aircraft has demonstrated excellent control in the wing rock region and increased rolling performance at high angles of attack. Initial pilot reports indicate that the increased capability is desirable although some difficulty in judging the size and timing of control inputs was observed. The aircraft, preflight ground testing and envelope expansion flight tests are described.

Regenie, Victoria↗

Aerodynamic characteristics of the MSFC pressure fed boosters at high angles of attack (M equals 0.6 to 5.0)

Experimental aerodynamic investigations were conducted in the 14 x 14 inch trisonic wind tunnel during early December 1971 on 0.003366 scale models of the space shuttle pressure fed booster configurations. The basic configurations tested were a 40 deg cone/cylinder/13 deg flare designated the pressure fed booster and a 35 deg cone/cylinder designated the pressure fed booster configuration x. Six component aerodynamic force and moment data were recorded over a Mach number range from 0.6 to 5.0 at angles of attack from +20 to +60 deg at 0 deg sideslip and over a sideslip range from -10 to +10 deg at 31 and 52 deg angles of attack. Primary configuration variables for the two basic pressure fed booster configurations were fin size and fin dihedral position.

Baker, J.↗

Shape and Angle-Of-Attack Measurements of Ram-Air Parachutes by Stereo Photogrammetry in the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex

US Army MC-4/5 ram-air parachutes were tested in the 80- by 120-Ft test section of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex. Arrays of targets on the upper and lower surfaces of the central cell of the canopies were measured by stereo photogrammetry, and the target positions were used to estimate both the shape of the cell and angle of attack of the canopy. Forces and moments were measured by a six-axis load cell. Based on the photogrammetry and load-cell measurements, the relationships between lift, drag, and angle of attack were determined over a range of trailing-edge flap deflections, front riser lengths, and free-stream airspeeds. This paper describes the test, with an emphasis on the photogrammetry measurements, and presents a summary of results.

Ram-Air parachutes↗

Lee surface flow phenomena over space shuttle at large angles of attack at M sub infinity equal 6

Surface pressure and heat transfer, flow separation, flow field, and oil flow patterns on the leeward side of a space shuttle orbiter model are investigated at a free stream Mach number of 6. The free stream Reynolds numbers are between 1.64 times 10 to the 7th power and 1.31 times 10 to the 8th power per meter, and the angle of attack is varied between 0 deg and 40 deg for the present experiments. The stagnation temperatures for the tests are approximately 500 K and the wall temperature is maintained at 290 K. Existing numerical methods of three-dimensional inviscid supersonic flow theory and compressible boundary layer theory are used to predict the present experimental measurements. Results of the present tests indicate two distinct types of flow separation and surface peak heating depending on the angle of attack.

Zakkay, V.↗

A method for predicting shock shapes and pressure distributions on two dimensional airfoils at large angles of attack

A method is presented for determining shock envelopes and pressure distributions for two-dimensional airfoils at angles of attack sufficiently large to cause shock detachment and subsonic flow over the windward surface of the airfoil. Correlation functions obtained from exact solutions are used to relate the shock standoff distance at the stagnation and sonic points of the body through a suitable choice for the shock shape. The necessary correlation functions were obtained from perfect gas solutions but may be extended to any gas flow for which the normal shock-density ratio can be specified.

Kaattari, G. E.↗

Recent experiences of unsteady aerodynamic effects on aircraft flight dynamics at high angle of attack

Recent research is highlighted which was conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center on two high angle-of-attack flight dynamic phenomena which are dominated by unsteady aerodynamic effects: wing rock and tumbling. Studies of wing rock induced by strong vortical flows and tumbling characteristics observed on an advanced configuration are reviewed. Results of wind tunnel experiments are summarized and the aerodynamic mechanisms involved in the phenomena were discussed.

Nguyen, L. T.↗

Viscous calculations of supersonic flows past cylinders at angles of attack

Two- and three-dimensional separated flows around cylindrical sections and a body-of-revolution at angles of attack from -10 deg to +20 deg are computed. The blunt-nose-cylinders chosen for the analyses have different configurations, and one of them has a boat-tail. The freestream Mach numbers are 1.5 and 1.6, the unit Reynolds number and the total temperature are 2 million/ft, and 585 R, respectively. Among the possible areas of application for this study are the aerodynamics of separating stores and missiles. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations are solved by an approximately-factored, implicit, upwind-biased, finite-volume algorithm. The convergence to steady state was accelerated using a multigrid strategy. The results helped understanding the structure of the flowfield with varying incidence and configuration, and the suitability of the computational algorithm used for this class of flows. A two-layer algebraic eddy viscosity model is used for the two-dimensional turbulent flows. Laminar three-dimensional calculations are benchmarked through comparisons with wind tunnel test results.

Baysal, O.↗

A Method for Predicting Lift Increments Due to Flap Deflection at Low Angles of Attack in Incompressible Flow

A method is presented for estimating the lift due to flap deflection at low angles of attack in incompressible flow. In this method provision is made for the use of incremental section-lift data for estimating the effectiveness of high-lift flaps. The method is applicable to swept wings of any aspect ratio or taper ratio. The present method differs from other current methods mainly in its ease of application and its more general application. Also included is a simplified method of estimating the lift-curve slope throughout the subsonic speed range.

WINGS, COMPLETE - TAPER AND TWIST↗

Stability of Hypersonic Boundary Layers on a Cone at an Angle of Attack

The stability and receptivity of a three-dimensional hypersonic boundary layer over a 7deg half-angle straight cone at an angle of attack of 6deg is numerically investigated at a freestream Mach number of 6.0 and a Reynolds number of 10.4x10(exp 6)/m. The generation and evolution of stationary crossflow vortices are also investigated by performing simulations with three-dimensional roughness elements located on the surface of the cone. The flow fields with and without the roughness elements are obtained by solving the full Navier- Stokes equations in cylindrical coordinates using a fifth-order accurate weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme for spatial discretization and a third-order total-variation-diminishing (TVD) Runge-Kutta scheme for temporal integration. Stability computations produced azimuthal wavenumbers in the range of m approx. 20-50 for the most amplified traveling disturbances and in the range of m approx.30-70 for the stationary disturbances. The frequency of the unstable second-mode ranges from 400 kHz to 900 kHz along the windward ray. The N-Factor computations predicted transition would occur more forward on the sides of the cone as compared to the transition fronts near the windward and the leeward rays. The simulations also show the crossflow vortices originating from the nose region propagate towards the leeward ray. No perturbations were observed toward the windward half of the cone.

Balakumar, P.↗

Prediction of static aerodynamic characteristics for slender bodies alone and with lifting surfaces to very high angles of attack

An engineering-type method is presented for computing normal-force and pitching-moment coefficients for slender bodies of circular and noncircular cross section alone and with lifting surfaces. In this method, a semi-empirical term representing viscous-separation crossflow is added to a term representing potential-theory crossflow. For many bodies of revolution, computed aerodynamic characteristics are shown to agree with measured results for investigated free-stream Mach numbers from 0.6 to 2.9. The angles of attack extend from 0 deg to 180 deg for M = 2.9 from 0 deg to 60 deg for M = 0.6 to 2.0. For several bodies of elliptic cross section, measured results are also predicted reasonably well over the investigated Mach number range from 0.6 to 2.0 and at angles of attack from 0 deg to 60 deg. As for the bodies of revolution, the predictions are best for supersonic Mach numbers. For body-wing and body-wing-tail configurations with wings of aspect ratios 3 and 4, measured normal-force coefficients and centers are predicted reasonably well at the upper test Mach number of 2.0. Vapor-screen and oil-flow pictures are shown for many body, body-wing and body-wing-tail configurations. When spearation and vortex patterns are asymmetric, undesirable side forces are measured for the models even at zero sideslip angle. Generally, the side-force coefficients decrease or vanish with the following: increase in Mach number, decrease in nose fineness ratio, change from sharp to blunt nose, and flattening of body cross section (particularly the body nose).

Jorgensen, L. H.↗

Multiaxis Thrust-Vectoring Characteristics of a Model Representative of the F-18 High-Alpha Research Vehicle at Angles of Attack From 0 deg to 70 deg

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the multiaxis thrust-vectoring characteristics of the F-18 High-Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV). A wingtip supported, partially metric, 0.10-scale jet-effects model of an F-18 prototype aircraft was modified with hardware to simulate the thrust-vectoring control system of the HARV. Testing was conducted at free-stream Mach numbers ranging from 0.30 to 0.70, at angles of attack from O' to 70', and at nozzle pressure ratios from 1.0 to approximately 5.0. Results indicate that the thrust-vectoring control system of the HARV can successfully generate multiaxis thrust-vectoring forces and moments. During vectoring, resultant thrust vector angles were always less than the corresponding geometric vane deflection angle and were accompanied by large thrust losses. Significant external flow effects that were dependent on Mach number and angle of attack were noted during vectoring operation. Comparisons of the aerodynamic and propulsive control capabilities of the HARV configuration indicate that substantial gains in controllability are provided by the multiaxis thrust-vectoring control system.

Asbury, Scott C.↗

Effect of aerodynamic and angle-of-attack uncertainties on the blended entry flight control system of the Space Shuttle from Mach 10 to 2.5

A six-degree-of-freedom simulation analysis has been performed for the Space Shuttle Orbiter during entry from Mach 10 to 2.5 with realistic off-nominal conditions using the entry flight control system specified in May 1978. The off-nominal conditions included the following: (1) aerodynamic uncertainties, (2) an error in deriving the angle of attack from onboard instrumentation, (3) the failure of two of the four reaction control-system thrusters on each side, and (4) a lateral center-of-gravity offset. With combinations of the above off-nominal conditions, the control system performed satisfactorily with a few exceptions. The cases that did not exhibit satisfactory performance displayed the following main weaknesses. Marginal performance was exhibited at hypersonic speeds with a sensed angle-of-attack error of 4 deg. At supersonic speeds the system tended to be oscillatory, and the system diverged for several cases because of the inability to hold lateral trim. Several system modifications were suggested to help solve these problems and to maximize safety on the first flight: alter the elevon-trim and speed-brake schedules, delay switching to rudder trim until the rudder effectiveness is adequate, and reduce the overall rudder loop gain. These and other modifications were incorporated in a flight-control-system redesign in May 1979.

Stone, H. W.↗

Multiaxis aircraft control power from thrust vectoring at high angles of attack

Extensive research programs conducted at the Langley Research Center have shown that thrust vectoring can be provided by multifunction (nonaxisymmetric) nozzles. Most of this research has been conducted on pitch vectoring at both static and forward flight conditions. Recent efforts have been aimed at evaluating yaw vectoring concepts at static (wind off) conditions. This paper summarizes results for three different twin-engine fighter configurations tested over a Mach number range of 0.15 to 2.47 at angles of attack up to 35 deg. The objective of these investigations was to determine the multiaxis control power characteristics provided by thrust vectoring. All three configurations employed two-dimensional convergent-divergent nozzles which provided pitch vectoring by differential deflection of the upper and lower nozzle divergent flaps. Three different means of yaw vectoring were tested: (1) a translating nozzle sidewall; (2) yaw flaps located in the nozzle sidewalls; and (3) canted nozzles. These investigations were conducted in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel and the Lewis 10x10-Foot Supersonic Tunnel. Longitudinal and direction control power from thrust vectoring was greater than that provided by aerodynamic control effectors at low speed or at high angles of attack.

Capone, F. J.↗