Engineering PapersSearch

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “INVISCID FLOW”

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 55 records · Page 3

A new finite element approach for prediction of aerothermal loads - Progress in inviscid flow computations

Recent progress in the development of finite element methodology for the prediction of aerothermal loads is described. Two dimensional, inviscid computations are presented, but emphasis is placed on development of an approach extendable to three dimensional viscous flows. Research progress is described for: (1) utilization of a commercially available program to construct flow solution domains and display computational results, (2) development of an explicit Taylor-Galerkin solution algorithm, (3) closed form evaluation of finite element matrices, (4) vector computer programming strategies, and (5) validation of solutions. Two test problems of interest to NASA Langley aerothermal research are studied. Comparisons of finite element solutions for Mach 6 flow with other solution methods and experimental data validate fundamental capabilities of the approach for analyzing high speed inviscid compressible flows.

Bey, K. S.

Grid generation and inviscid flow computation about cranked-winged airplane geometries

An algebraic grid generation procedure that defines a patched multiple-block grid system suitable for fighter-type aircraft geometries with fuselage and engine inlet, canard or horizontal tail, cranked delta wing and vertical fin has been developed. The grid generation is based on transfinite interpolation and requires little computational power. A finite-volume Euler solver using explicit Runge-Kutta time-stepping has been adapted to this grid system and implemented on the VPS-32 vector processor with a high degree of vectorization. Grids are presented for an experimental aircraft with fuselage, canard, 70-20-cranked wing, and vertical fin. Computed inviscid compressible flow solutions are presented for Mach 2 at 3.79, 7 and 10 deg angles of attack. Conmparisons of the 3.79 deg computed solutions are made with available full-potential flow and Euler flow solutions on the same configuration but with another grid system. The occurrence of an unsteady solution in the 10 deg angle of attack case is discussed.

Eriksson, L.-E.

Development of a solution adaptive unstructured scheme for quasi-3D inviscid flows through advanced turbomachinery cascades

The objective of the present research is to develop a general solution adaptive scheme for the accurate prediction of inviscid quasi-three-dimensional flow in advanced compressor and turbine designs. The adaptive solution scheme combines an explicit finite-volume time-marching scheme for unstructured triangular meshes and an advancing front triangular mesh scheme with a remeshing procedure for adapting the mesh as the solution evolves. The unstructured flow solver has been tested on a series of two-dimensional airfoil configurations including a three-element analytic test case presented here. Mesh adapted quasi-three-dimensional Euler solutions are presented for three spanwise stations of the NASA rotor 67 transonic fan. Computed solutions are compared with available experimental data.

Usab, William J., Jr.

Convergence of Defect-Correction and Multigrid Iterations for Inviscid Flows

Convergence of multigrid and defect-correction iterations is comprehensively studied within different incompressible and compressible inviscid regimes on high-density grids. Good smoothing properties of the defect-correction relaxation have been shown using both a modified Fourier analysis and a more general idealized-coarse-grid analysis. Single-grid defect correction alone has some slowly converging iterations on grids of medium density. The convergence is especially slow for near-sonic flows and for very low compressible Mach numbers. Additionally, the fast asymptotic convergence seen on medium density grids deteriorates on high-density grids. Certain downstream-boundary modes are very slowly damped on high-density grids. Multigrid scheme accelerates convergence of the slow defect-correction iterations to the extent determined by the coarse-grid correction. The two-level asymptotic convergence rates are stable and significantly below one in most of the regions but slow convergence is noted for near-sonic and very low-Mach compressible flows. Multigrid solver has been applied to the NACA 0012 airfoil and to different flow regimes, such as near-tangency and stagnation. Certain convergence difficulties have been encountered within stagnation regions. Nonetheless, for the airfoil flow, with a sharp trailing-edge, residuals were fast converging for a subcritical flow on a sequence of grids. For supercritical flow, residuals converged slower on some intermediate grids than on the finest grid or the two coarsest grids.

Diskin, Boris

Finite element computations for high speed 30 inviscid flows

Recent progress in the development of finite element methodology for the prediction of aerothermal loads is described. Three dimensional, inviscid computations are presented, but emphasis is placed on development of an approach extendable to three dimensional viscous flows. Progress in key research areas is described. Initial 30 results from the computational procedure are described.

Thornton, E. A.

Inviscid Flow Computations of Several Aeroshell Configurations for a '07 Mars Lander

This report documents the results of an inviscid computational study conducted on several candidate aeroshell configurations for a proposed '07 Mars lander. Eleven different configurations were considered, and the aerodynamic characteristics of each of these were computed for a Mach number of 23.7 at 10, 15, and 20 degree angles of attack. The unstructured grid software FELISA with the equilibrium Mars gas option was used for these computations. The pitching moment characteristics and the lift-to-drag ratios at trim angle of attack of each of these configurations were examined to make a selection. The criterion for selection was that the configuration should be longitudinally stable, and should trim at an angle of attack where the L/D is -0.25. Based on the present study, two configurations were selected for further study

Prabhu, Ramadas K.

Development of a method of analysis and computer program for calculating the inviscid flow about the windward surfaces of space shuttle configurations at large angles of attack

A general method developed for the analysis of inviscid hypersonic shock layers is discussed for application to the case of the shuttle vehicle at high (65 deg) angle of attack. The associated extensive subsonic flow region caused convergence difficulties whose resolution is discussed. It is required that the solution be smoother than anticipated.

Maslen, S. H.

A computer program for calculating the perfect gas inviscid flow field about blunt axisymmetric bodies at an angle of attack of 0 deg

A method for the rapid calculation of the inviscid shock layer about blunt axisymmetric bodies at an angle of attack of 0 deg has been developed. The procedure is of an inverse nature, that is, a shock wave is assumed and calculations proceed along rays normal to the shock. The solution is iterated until the given body is computed. The flow field solution procedure is programed at the Langley Research Center for the Control Data 6600 computer. The geometries specified in the program are sphores, ellipsoids, paraboloids, and hyperboloids which may conical afterbodies. The normal momentum equation is replaced with an approximate algebraic expression. This simplification significantly reduces machine computation time. Comparisons of the present results with shock shapes and surface pressure distributions obtained by the more exact methods indicate that the program provides reasonably accurate results for smooth bodies in axisymmetric flow. However, further research is required to establish the proper approximate form of the normal momentum equation for the two-dimensional case.

Zoby, E. V.

Inviscid Flow Computations of the Orbital Sciences X-34 Over a Mach Number Range of 1.25 to 6.0

This report documents the results of an inviscid computational study conducted on the Orbital Sciences X-34 vehicle to compute its inviscid longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics over a Mach number range of 1.25 to 6.0. The unstructured grid software FELISA was used and th e aerodynamic characteristics were computed at Mach numbers 1.25, 1.6, 2.5, 4.0, 4.63, and 6.0, and an angle of attack range of -4 to 32 degrees. These results were compared with available aerodynamic data from wind tunnel test on X-34 models. The comparison showed excellent agreement in C(sub N). The computed pitching moment compared well at Mach numbers 2.5 and higher, and at angles of attack of up to 12 deg. The agreement was not good at higher angles of attack possibly due to viscous effects. At lower Mach numbers there were significant differences between computed and measured C(sub m) values. This could not be explained. Since the present computations are inviscid, the computed C(sub A) was consistently lower than the measured values as expected.

Prabhu, Ramadas K.

Inviscid Flow Computations of Two '07 Mars Lander Aeroshell Configurations Over a Mach Number Range of 2 to 24

This report documents the results of an inviscid computational study conducted on two aeroshell configurations for a proposed '07 Mars Lander. The aeroshell configurations are asymmetric due to the presence of the tabs at the maximum diameter location. The purpose of these tabs was to change the pitching moment characteristics so that the aeroshell will trim at a non-zero angle of attack and produce a lift-to-drag ratio of approximately -0.25. This is required in the guidance of the vehicle on its trajectory. One of the two configurations is called the shelf and the other is called the tab. The unstructured grid software FELISA with the equilibrium Mars gas option was used for these computations. The computations were done for six points on a preliminary trajectory of the '07 Mars Lander at nominal Mach numbers of 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 24. Longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics namely lift, drag, and pitching moment were computed for 10, 15, and 20 degrees angles of attack. The results indicated that the two configurations have aerodynamic characteristics that have very similar aerodynamic characteristics, and provide the desired trim LID of approximately -0.25.

Prabhu, Ramadas K.

Inviscid Flow Computations of the Shuttle Orbiter for Mach 10 and 15 and Angle of Attack 40 to 60 Degrees

This report documents the results of a computational study done to compute the inviscid longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of the Space Shuttle Orbiter for Mach numbers 10 and 15 at angles of attack of 40, 50, 55, and 60 degrees. These computations were done to provide limited aerodynamic data in support of the Orbiter contingency abort task. The Orbiter had all the control surfaces in the undeflected position. The unstructured grid software FELISA was used for these computations with the equilibrium air option. Normal and axial force coefficients and pitching moment coefficients were computed. The hinge moment coefficients of the body flap and the inboard and outboard elevons were also computed. These results were compared with Orbiter Air Data Book (OADB) data and those computed using GASP. The comparison with the GASP results showed very good agreement in Cm and Ca at all the points. The computed axial force coefficients were smaller than those computed by GASP. There were noticeable differences between the present results and those in the OADB at angles of attack greater than 50 degrees.

Prabhu, Ramadas K.

Application of a quasi-3D inviscid flow and boundary layer analysis to the hub-shroud contouring of a radial turbine

Application of a quasi-3D approach to the aerodynamic analysis of several radial turbine configurations is described. The objective was to improve the rotor aerodynamic characteristics by hub-shroud contouring. The approach relies on available 2D inviscid methods coupled with boundary layer analysis to calculate profile, mixing, and endwall losses. Windage, tip clearance, incidence, and secondary flow losses are estimated from correlations. To eliminate separation along the hub and blade suction surfaces of a baseline rotor, the analysis was also applied to three alternate hub-shroud geometries. Emphasis was on elimination an inducer velocity overshoot as well as increasing hub velocities. While separation was never eliminated, the extent of the separated area was progressively reduced. Results are presented in terms of mid-channel and blade surface velocities; kinetic energy loss coefficients; and efficiency. The calculation demonstrates a first step for a systematic approach to radial turbine design that can be used to identify and control aerodynamic characteristics that ultimately determine heat transfer and component life. Experimentation will be required to assess the extent to which flow and boundary layer behavior were predicted correctly.

Civinskas, K. C.

Application of a quasi-3D inviscid flow and boundary layer analysis to the hub-shroud contouring of a radial turbine

Application of a quasi-3D approach to the aerodynamic analysis of several radial turbine configurations is described. The objective was to improve the rotor aerodynamic characteristics by hub-shroud contouring. The approach relies on available 2D inviscid methods coupled with boundary layer analysis to calculate profile, mixing, and endwall losses. Windage, tip clearance, incidence, and secondary flow losses are estimated from correlations. To eliminate separation along the hub and blade suction surfaces of a baseline rotor, the analysis was also applied to three alternate hub-shroud geometries. Emphasis was on elimination of an inducer velocity overshoot as well as increasing hub velocities. While separation was never eliminated, the extent of the separated area was progressively reduced. Results are presented in terms of mid-channel and blade surface velocities; kinetic energy loss coefficients; and efficiency. The calculation demonstrates a first step for a systematic approach to radial turbine design that can be used to identify and control aerodynamic characteristics that ultimately determine heat transfer and component life. Experimentation will be required to assess the extent to which flow and boundary layer behavior were predicted correctly.

Civinskas, K.

Computation of three-dimensional inviscid flow over hypersonic missile configurations using the GIM code

A three-dimensional computational technique was used to obtain flowfield solutions to the Euler equations over selected hypersonic missile configurations. The General Interpolants Method (GIM) computer code was used with interpolation functions in an algebraic approach to generate a discrete computational grid for each configuration. The spatial marching version of the GIM code, which treats the parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) equations or the Euler equations with a shock capturing, 'MacCormack-like' scheme, was used to advance the solution hyperbolically over each configuration. The inviscid flowfield solutions over the two three-dimensional missile configurations, calculated using the GIM hyperbolic scheme, are presented here. The flow field over a wing/body configuration at zero degree angle of attack is presented. Flow over the fuselage of a tactical missile, termed the TAME 10, at both zero degree and 7.5 degree angles of attack is presented. In addition, an inviscid, two-dimensional analysis of an inlet configuration designed to mount on the TAME 10 is included. Contour maps of velocity and pressure are included for each configuration. Comparison of calculation and data show good agreement.

Xiques, K. E.

Surface pressure and inviscid flow field properties of the McDonnell-Douglas delta-wing orbiter for nominal Mach number of 8, Volume 1

The results of a wind tunnel test program to determine the surface pressures and flow distribution on the McDonnell Douglas Orbiter configuration are presented. Tests were conducted in hypersonic wind tunnel at Mach 8. The freestream unit Reynolds number was 3.7 time one million per foot. Angle of attack was varied from 10 degrees to 60 degrees in 10 degree increments.

Warmbrod, J. D.

Surface pressure and inviscid flow field properties of the North American Rockwell delta-wing orbiter for nominal Mach number of 8, volume 2

The results are presented of a wind tunnel test program to determine surface pressures and flow field properties on the space shuttle orbiter configuration. The tests were conducted in September 1971. Data were obtained at a nominal Mach number of 8 and a free stream unit Reynolds number of 3.7 million per foot. Angle of attack was varied from 10 to 50 deg in 10-deg increments.

Matthews, R. K.