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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.

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At least 577 records · Page 32
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Full-scale wind tunnel study of nacelle shape on cooling drag

Tests were made in the NASA-Ames 40- by 80 Foot Wind Tunnel of a wing semispan with a nacelle (no propeller) from a typical, general aviation twin-engine aircraft. Measurements were made of the effect on drag of the cooling air flow through the nacelle. Internal and external nacelle pressures were measured. It was found that the cooling flow accounts for about 13% of the estimated airplane drag and about 42% of the cooling flow drag is associated with the internal flow. It was concluded that improvements could be made by relocating both the inlet and the outlet of the cooling air.

Corsiglia, V. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Satellite drag coefficients calculated from measured distributions of reflected helium atoms

The primary objectives of this study were to obtain the necessary data and develop a calculation procedure that would facilitate predicting the atmospheric-helium contribution to the drag of a satellite having a predominantly convex exterior. Molecular-beam techniques were used to measure, for several incidence angles, the spatial and energy distributions of 7000 m/s helium atoms scattered from a 6061-T6 aluminum plate and an anodized 1235-0 aluminum surface. From these measured distributions, tangential and normal momentum accommodation coefficients were calculated as functions of incidence angle. Using these calculated accommodation coefficients, one can predict drag coefficients for satellites having predominantly convex exteriors. For spherical satellites, drag coefficients of 2.64 and 2.62 were predicted for the subject surfaces.

Liu, S.-M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Atmospheric drag as the cause of the secular decrease in the semimajor axis of LAGEOS's orbit

An unmodeled acceleration is causing the semimajor axis of LAGEOS to decrease at the rate of about 1.1 mm/day. Drag from charged particles or neutral helium or both is the most probable cause. The rate of orbital decay is conceivably explained by the theories of charged particle drag. Unfortunately, these theories are not yet developed to the point where a definitive statement as to the importance of charged particle drag can be made. Neutral helium may also be the cause of the orbital decay. While the abundance required to account for the secular decrease is high, it also helps solve the 'helium problem'. Neutral hydrogen probably accounts for no more than 12 percent of the observed decay.

Rubincam, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Development of a Kevlar/PMR-15 reduced drag DC-9 nacelle fairing

The paper describes an advanced composite fairing designed to reduce drag on DC-9 nacelles as a part of the NASA Engine Component Improvement Program. This fairing is the aft enclosure for the thrust reverser actuator system on JT8D engine nacelles and is subjected to a 500 F exhaust flow during the reverse thrust. A reduced-drag configuration was developed by using in-flight tuft surveys for flow visualization in order to identify areas with low-quality flow, and then modifying the aerodynamic lines to improve the flow. A fabrication method for molding the part in an autoclave was developed; this material system is suitable for 500 F. The resultant composite fairing reduces the overall aircraft drag 1% with a weight reduction of 40% when compared with a metal component.

Kawai, R. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Longitudinal grooves for bluff body drag reduction

Wind tunnel test results are presented for four axisymmetric bluff body configurations in order to determine their effect on form and pressure drag. It was found that drag reductions on the order of 40% are obtainable with an afterbody incorporating four longitudinal 'V' grooves. Although this effect may be due to the functioning of the grooves as longitudinal, continuous vortex generators, it is concluded that further research is needed to elucidate the physical basis of the test results. Optimization of the effect will be useful in base drag reduction for such vehicles as automobiles and cargo aircraft with sharply upswept afterbodies.

Quass, B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Forebody drag reduction

It is shown that the mechanisms of forebody drag reduction by means of either a spike or a forward-facing jet are similar, with the maximum achievable drag reduction being of the same order. Because the jet may be a relatively cool gas, however, the forward facing jet has the additional capability of reducing the aerodynamic heating that is so severe at high Mach numbers. By means of the correlation presented, jet ejection parameters may be chosen to achieve maximum permissible forebody drag reduction. The correlation method uses a momentum coefficient that characterizes jet efflux and freestream conditions.

Pamadi, B. N.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Experimental study of delta wing leading-edge devices for drag reduction at high lift

The drag reduction devices selected for evaluation were the fence, slot, pylon-type vortex generator, and sharp leading-edge extension. These devices were tested on a 60 degree flatplate delta (with blunt leading edges) in the Langley Research Center 7- by 10-foot high-speed tunnel at low speed and to angles of attack of 28 degrees. Balance and static pressure measurements were taken. The results indicate that all the devices had significant drag reduction capability and improved longitudinal stability while a slight loss of lift and increased cruise drag occurred.

Johnson, T. D., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Investigation of passive shock wave-boundary layer control for transonic airfoil drag reduction

The passive drag control concept, consisting of a porous surface with a cavity beneath it, was investigated with a 12-percent-thick circular arc and a 14-percent-thick supercritical airfoil mounted on the test section bottom wall. The porous surface was positioned in the shock wave/boundary layer interaction region. The flow circulating through the porous surface, from the downstream to the upstream of the terminating shock wave location, produced a lambda shock wave system and a pressure decrease in the downstream region minimizing the flow separation. The wake impact pressure data show an appreciably drag reduction with the porous surface at transonic speeds. To determine the optimum size of porosity and cavity, tunnel tests were conducted with different airfoil porosities, cavities and flow Mach numbers. A higher drag reduction was obtained by the 2.5 percent porosity and the 1/4-inch deep cavity.

Nagamatsu, H. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An analytic solution to the classical two-body problem with drag

The two body problem was analyzed with a specific drag model. The model treats drag as a force proportional to the vector velocity and inversely proportional to the distance to the center of attraction. The solution is expressed in terms of known functions and is of a simple and compact form. The time of flight is expressed as a quadrature in the true anomaly. The results are: (1) development of a vector differential equation which allows analysis of an infinite number of gravitational and drag models; and (2) obtaining the solution of a linear differential equation using the inverse method of laplace transforms.

Mittleman, D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Longitudinal afterbody grooves and shoulder radiusing for low-speed bluff body drag reduction

A new low-speed drag reduction approach is proposed which employs longitudinal surface V-shaped grooves cutting through the afterbody shoulder region. The test Reynolds number range was from 20,000 to 200,000 based on undisturbed free-stream flow and a body diameter of 6.08 cm. The V-grooves are shown to be most effective in reducing drag when the afterbody shoulder radius is zero. Reductions in drag of up to 33% have been measured for this condition. For large shoulder radius, the grooves are only effective at the lower Reynolds numbers of the test.

Howard, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

An evaluation of vertical drag and ground effect using the RSRA rotor balance system

A flight test program utilizing the Rotor Systems Research Aircraft (RSRA) main rotor balance system was conducted to obtain data for the helicopter configuration. The test program is discussed along with the employed data reduction methods, and the results. NASA 740, the RSRA used for the vertical drag test, was in the standard helicopter configuration. The 31-foot radius blades have a linear twist of eight degrees and NACA 0012 airfoil sections. Aspects of instrumentation are considered, taking into account the data recording system, the static calibration facility, and aspects of data calibration and processing. Attention is given to the test procedure, data analysis methods, balance measurements, the ground effect, and vertical drag. It is found that the RSRA rotor balance system is capable of providing high quality performance data. The vertical drag of the RSRA is 4%, compared to 2.9% predicted.

Flemming, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A study of optimum cowl shapes and flow port locations for minimum drag with effective engine cooling, volume 1

The contributions to the cruise drag of light aircraft arising from the shape of the engine cowl and the forward fuselage area and also that resulting from the cooling air mass flow through intake and exhaust sites on the nacelle were analyzed. The methods employed for the calculation of the potential flow about an arbitrary three dimensional body are described with modifications to include the effects of boundary layer displacement thickness, a nonuniform onset flow field (such as that due to a rotating propeller), and the presence of air intakes and exhausts. A simple, reliable, largely automated scheme to better define or change the shape of a body is also presented. A technique was developed which can yield physically acceptable skin friction and pressure drag coefficients for isolated light aircraft bodies. For test cases on a blunt nose Cessna 182 fuselage, the technique predicted drag reductions as much as 28.5% by body recontouring and proper placements and sizing of the cooling air intakes and exhausts.

Fox, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A study of optimum cowl shapes and flow port locations for minimum drag with effective engine cooling, volume 2

The listings, user's instructions, sample inputs, and sample outputs of two computer programs which are especially useful in obtaining an approximate solution of the viscous flow over an arbitrary nonlifting three dimensional body are provided. The first program performs a potential flow solution by a well known panel method and readjusts this initial solution to account for the effects of the boundary layer displacement thickness, a nonuniform but unidirectional onset flow field, and the presence of air intakes and exhausts. The second program is effectually a geometry package which allows the user to change or refine the shape of a body to satisfy particular needs without a significant amount of human intervention. An effort to reduce the cruise drag of light aircraft through an analytical study of the contributions to the drag arising from the engine cowl shape and the foward fuselage area and also that resulting from the cooling air mass flowing through intake and exhaust sites on the nacelle is presented. The programs may be effectively used to determine the appropriate body modifications or flow port locations to reduce the cruise drag as well as to provide sufficient air flow for cooling the engine.

Fox, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Flight test evaluation of drag effects on surface coatings on the NASA Boeing 737 TCV airplane

A flight test program was conducted in which the effects of various surface coatings on aerodynamic drag were investigated; results of this program are described in this report. The tests were conducted at NASA-Langley Research Center on the terminal configured vehicle (TCV) Boeing 737 research airplane. The Boeing Company, as contractor with NASA under the Energy Efficient Transport (EET) program, planned and evaluated the experiment. The NASA-TCV Program Office coordinated the experiment and performed the flight tests. The principal objective of the test was to evaluate the drag reduction potential of an elastomeric polyurethane surface coating, CAAPCO B-274, which also has been considered for application on transport airplanes to protect leading edges from erosion. The smooth surface achievable with this type of coating held some promise of reducing the skin friction drag as compared to conventional production type aircraft surfaces, which are usually anodized bare metal or coated with corrosion protective paint. Requirements for high precision measurements were the principal considerations in the experiment.

George-Falvy, D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Passive shock wave/boundary layer control for transonic airfoil drag reduction

An investigation of the passive shock wave/boundary layer interaction control for reducing the drag in 12 percent thick circular arc and 14 percent thick supercritical airfoils was conducted in a 3 in. x 15.4 in. transonic wind tunnel at transonic Mach numbers. A porous surface with a cavity beneath it was positioned on the area of the airfoils, mounted on the test section bottom wall, where the shock wave occurs. The static pressure distributions over the airfoil, the wake impact pressure data for determining the profile drag, and the Schlieren photographs for porous surface airfoils are presented and compared with the results for solid surface airfoils. With the porous surface the normal shock wave for solid surface was changed to a lambda shock wave system, and the wake impact pressure data indicated an appreciable drag reduction for both airfoils with the porous surface at transonic speeds while causing little or no loss of lift. The effect of porosity and cavity size is investigated and off-design performance is discussed.

Bahi, L.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Alteration of outer flow structures for turbulent drag reduction

Paper reviews large eddy behavior in turbulent boundary layers and presents a survey of turbulent wall layers subjected to abrupt changes in boundary conditions. From this survey several methods have been identified with potential for altering the turbulence production process in the outer region of the boundary layer and reducing the turbulent skin-friction drag over relatively long downstream distances; these include convex longitudinal surface curvature, large-eddy breakup devices, and Emmons spot alteration. Paper also presents results of an ongoing experimental study to parametrically evaluate large-eddy breakup devices as a turbulent drag reduction concept and reproduce the 20 percent net drag reductions found in large-eddy breakup experiments at Illinois Institute of Technology.

Hefner, J. N.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Support-sting interference on boattail pressure drag for Reynolds numbers up to 70 x 10 to the 6th

A model was tested in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel to investigate the effects of Reynolds number on boattail pressure drag for a variety of sting shapes. The boattail pressure drag for constant Mach number increased linearly with Reynolds number over the Reynolds number range tested. The data indicated that, as the disturbance produced by the sting on the boattail increased, the boattail pressure drag became less sensitive to Reynolds number change. Also, it was found that the model base pressure versus Reynolds number curve reached a plateau within the Reynolds number range examined.

Gloss, B. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Drag of two-dimensional small-amplitude symmetric and asymmetric wavy walls in turbulent boundary layers

Included are results of an experimental investigation of low-speed turbulent flow over multiple two-dimensional transverse rigid wavy surfaces having a wavelength on the order of the boundary-layer thickness. Data include surface pressure and total drag measurements on symmetric and asymmetric wall waves under a low-speed turbulent boundary-layer flow. Several asymmetric wave configurations exhibited drag levels below the equivalent symmetric (sine) wave. The experimental results compare favorably with numerical predictions from a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes spectral code. The reported results are of particular interest for the estimation of drag, the minimization of fabrication waviness effects, and the study of wind-wave interactions.

Lin, J. C.↗