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At least 577 records · Page 32

Magnetic Suspension Wind Tunnel Reconstruction Using an Extended Kalman Filter Framework

- Problem Statement: - Magnetic Suspension Balance System (MSBS) allows operation of wind tunnels without sting effect - Small-scale MSBS system has been demonstrated; NASA is building a full-scale MSBS wind tunnel for supersonic speeds - MSBS testing can provide data that addresses mission needs; current data reconstruction methods do not combine all measurement data - Reconstruction methods for aerodynamic coefficients and their uncertainties are piecemeal, and in their infancy - Mission Need: - Enhancement of Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) technology during atmospheric flight is a top priority - Accurate dynamic aerodynamic coefficients are necessary for stability and control of entry vehicles - Goal: - Develop an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) based framework to do reduction of MSBS data that will estimate aerodynamics, trajectory, and uncertainty information, combining data sources from the tunnel

Christopher D. Karlgaard↗

Space shuttle orbiter trimmed center-of-gravity extension study: Volume 2: Effects of configuration modifications on the aerodynamic characteristics of the 140 A/B orbiter at transonic speeds

Tests were conducted in the LaRC 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel to determine effects of fuselage nose and wing fillet modifications on the transonic aerodynamic characteristics of a space shuttle orbiter configuration. In addition to reshaping the baseline wing planform fillet, small canards were added to the configuration. The modifications considered were of interest in extending the forward center-of-gravity boundary for the configuration.

Phillips, W. P.↗

Wind Tunnel Model Design for the Study of Plume Effects on Sonic Boom for Isolated Exhaust Nozzles

A low cost test capability was developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center 1- by 1-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (SWT), with a goal to reduce the disturbance caused by supersonic aircraft flight over populated areas. This work focused on the shock wave structure caused by the exhaust nozzle plume. Analysis and design was performed on a new rig to test exhaust nozzle plume effects on sonic boom signature. Test capability included a baseline nozzle test article and a wind tunnel model consisting of a strut, a nose cone and an upper plenum. Analysis was performed on the external and internal aerodynamic configuration, including the shock reflections from the wind tunnel walls caused by the presence of the model nosecone. This wind tunnel model was designed to operate from Mach 1.4 to Mach 3.0 with nozzle pressure ratios from 6 to 12 and altitudes from 30,000 ft (4.36 psia) to 50,000 ft (1.68 psia). The model design was based on a 1 in. outer diameter, was 9 in. in overall length, and was mounted in the wind tunnel on a 3/8 in. wide support strut. For test conditions at 50,000 ft the strut was built to supply 90 psia of pressure, and to achieve 20 psia at the nozzle inlet with a maximum nozzle pressure of 52 psia. Instrumentation was developed to measure nozzle pressure ratio, and an external static pressure probe was designed to survey near field static pressure profiles at one nozzle diameter above the rig centerline. Model layout placed test nozzles between two transparent sidewalls in the 1x1 SWT for Schlieren photography and comparison to CFD analysis.

Castner, Raymond S.↗

Wind Tunnel Model Design for the Study of Plume Effects on Sonic Boom for Isolated Exhaust Nozzles

A low cost test capability was developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center 1- by 1-Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel (SWT), with a goal to reduce the disturbance caused by supersonic aircraft flight over populated areas. This work focused on the shock wave structure caused by the exhaust nozzle plume. Analysis and design was performed on a new rig to test exhaust nozzle plume effects on sonic boom signature. Test capability included a baseline nozzle test article and a wind tunnel model consisting of a strut, a nosecone and an upper plenum. Analysis was performed on the external and internal aerodynamic configuration, including the shock reflections from the wind tunnel walls caused by the presence of the model nosecone. This wind tunnel model was designed to operate from Mach 1.4 to Mach 3.0 with nozzle pressure ratios from 6 to 12 and altitudes from 30,000 ft (4.36 psia) to 50,000 ft (1.68 psia). The model design was based on a 1 in. outer diameter, was 9 in. in overall length, and was mounted in the wind tunnel on a 3/8 in. wide support strut. For test conditions at 50,000 ft the strut was built to supply 90 psia of pressure, and to achieve 20 psia at the nozzle inlet with a maximum nozzle pressure of 52 psia. Instrumentation was developed to measure nozzle pressure ratio, and an external static pressure probe was designed to survey near field static pressure profiles at one nozzle diameter above the rig centerline. Model layout placed test nozzles between two transparent sidewalls in the 1 1 SWT for Schlieren photography and comparison to CFD analysis.

Castner, Raynold S.↗

Superconducting phonon spectroscopy using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope

The low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) system described by LeDuc et al. (1987) was used to observe the phonon density of states effects in a superconductor. Using techniques based on those employed in macroscopic tunneling spectroscopy, electron tunneling current-voltage (I-V) spectra were measured for NbN and Pb, and dI/dV vs V spectra were measured using standard analog derivative techniques. I-V measurements on NbN and Pb samples under typical STM conditions showed no evidence for multiparticle tunneling effects.

Leduc, H. G.↗

Full‐dimensional coupled‐channel statistical approach to atom‐triatom systems and applications to H/D + O 3 reaction

Abstract The statistical quantum model (SQM), which assumes that the reactivity is controlled by entrance/exit channel quantum capture probabilities, is well suited for chemical reactions with a long‐lived intermediate complex. In this work, a time‐independent coupled‐channel implementation of the SQM approach is developed for atom‐triatom systems in full dimensionality. As SQM treats the capture dynamics quantum mechanically, it is capable of handling quantum effects such as tunneling. A detailed study of the H/D + O 3 capture dynamics was performed by applying the newly developed SQM method on an accurate global potential energy surface. Agreement with previous ring polymer molecular dynamics (RPMD) results on the same potential energy surface is excellent except for very low temperatures. The SQM results are also in reasonably good agreement with available experimental rate coefficients. The strong H/D kinetic isotope effect underscores the dominant role of quantum tunneling under an entrance channel barrier at low temperatures.

Yang, Dongzheng↗

Effect of perturbed flow on the transition from the supersonic laminar boundary layer to the turbulent

Results of experimental studies on the effect of various factors on the transition of a supersonic boundary layer are discussed. It is shown that in supersonic wind tunnels, a significant effect on the transition of the boundary layer on a model is exerted by the scale of acoustic perturbations, which is proportional to the boundary layer displacement thickness of the working section. Experimental data obtained over a wide range of variation of flow parameters in aerodynamically similar test installations with different dimensions of the working section are generalized by means of a correlation parameter based on the displacement thickness.

Kharitonov, A. M.↗

A Practical Methodology for Quantifying Random and Systematic Components of Unexplained Variance in a Wind Tunnel

This paper documents a check standard wind tunnel test conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (0.3M TCT) that was designed and analyzed using the Modern Design of Experiments (MDOE). The test designed to partition the unexplained variance of typical wind tunnel data samples into two constituent components, one attributable to ordinary random error, and one attributable to systematic error induced by covariate effects. Covariate effects in wind tunnel testing are discussed, with examples. The impact of systematic (non-random) unexplained variance on the statistical independence of sequential measurements is reviewed. The corresponding correlation among experimental errors is discussed, as is the impact of such correlation on experimental results generally. The specific experiment documented herein was organized as a formal test for the presence of unexplained variance in representative samples of wind tunnel data, in order to quantify the frequency with which such systematic error was detected, and its magnitude relative to ordinary random error. Levels of systematic and random error reported here are representative of those quantified in other facilities, as cited in the references.

Deloach, Richard↗

Drag of a Supercritical Body of Revolution in Free Flight at Transonic Speeds and Comparison with Wind Tunnel Data

The forebody drag of a supercritical body of revolution was measured in free flight over a Mach number range of 0.85 to 1.05 and a Reynolds number range of 11.5 x 10 to the 6th power to 19.4 x 10 to the 6th power and was compared with wind-tunnel data. The forebody drag coefficient for a Mach number less than 0.96 was 0.111 compared with the wind-tunnel value of 0.103. A gradual increase in the drag occurred in the Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel at a lower Mach number than in the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel or in the free-flight test. The sharp drag rise occurred near Mach 0.98 in free flight whereas the rise occurred near Mach 0.99 in the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel. The sharp rise was not as pronounced in the Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel and was probably affected by tunnel-wall-interference effects. The increase occurred more slowly and at a higher Mach number. These results indicate that the drag measurements made in the wind tunnels near Mach 1 were significantly affected by the relative size of the model and the wind tunnel.

Usry, J. W.↗

Numerical Viscous Flow Analysis of an Advanced Semispan Diamond-Wing Model at High-Life Conditions

Turbulent Navier-Stokes computational results are presented for an advanced diamond wing semispan model at low speed, high-lift conditions. The numerical results are obtained in support of a wind-tunnel test that was conducted in the National Transonic Facility (NTF) at the NASA Langley Research Center. The model incorporated a generic fuselage and was mounted on the tunnel sidewall using a constant width standoff. The analyses include: (1) the numerical simulation of the NTF empty, tunnel flow characteristics; (2) semispan high-lift model with the standoff in the tunnel environment; (3) semispan high-lift model with the standoff and viscous sidewall in free air; and (4) semispan high-lift model without the standoff in free air. The computations were performed at conditions that correspond to a nominal approach and landing configuration. The wing surface pressure distributions computed for the model in both the tunnel and in free air agreed well with the corresponding experimental data and they both indicated small increments due to the wall interference effects. However, the wall interference effects were found to be more pronounced in the total measured and the computed lift, drag and pitching moment due to standard induced up-flow effects. Although the magnitudes of the computed forces and moment were slightly off compared to the measured data, the increments due the wall interference effects were predicted well. The numerical predictions are also presented on the combined effects of the tunnel sidewall boundary layer and the standoff geometry on the fuselage fore-body pressure distributions and the resulting impact on the overall configuration longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics.

Ghaffari, F.↗

Analysis and Comparison of Surface Roughness Effects on Pressure Data from SLS Wind Tunnel Test

Unsteady flows are becoming a more characterized field of study as advancements in technology is allowing for more high-speed, time-resolved data acquisition. It is important to understand these flows as the shock-wave boundary-layer interactions and separation they are involved with can generate extreme loads caused by high pressure and temperature on the body of a flight vehicle. It is vital to characterize these loads, as they can impede upon the structural integrity of a high-speed system. A common instrument utilized today to characterize pressure distributions caused by unsteady flows are unsteady pressure transducers. Set flush with the surface of a flight vehicle or wind tunnel model, these transducers can provide a pressure distribution, capturing the frequency of unsteady loads that could impinge upon the test article. A couple negative aspects of this instrumentation is that they are expensive, have long lead times, and a pressure distribution can only be determined in one discrete location where the transducer is installed. An optical diagnostic known as unsteady pressure-sensitive paint (uPSP) can help to satisfy these deficiencies. This is a spray paint that can be applied to a surface of a model to provide a global pressure distribution across the whole painted region.2 A complete picture of the fluid dynamic pressures occurring on the surface of a test article can be analyzed, especially in locations where it may have been impossible to install a transducer. Pressure-sensitive paint is also less expensive than traditional pressure transducers, which are, on average, about $2,000 each including the cost of installation.3 Unsteady PSP will not replace unsteady pressure transducers, but the transducers can be used to validate the PSP response to the flow and measure frequencies higher than the frequency response of the paint. One issue that can arise using these tools simultaneously, is that the surface roughness of the uPSP can affect the pressure readings of the transducers. Applying the uPSP to the surface of the model is going to affect the flow in some way as the topography of the model is now different than if it was not painted. One study with steady PSP conducted by Amer, Obara, and Liu at NASA Langley concluded that the PSP surface roughness was minimally intrusive at different test conditions with various lift, drag, etc., however, it was noted that data from some pressure transducers had decreased, likely due to the uneven application of the PSP in the localized region of the transducers.9 Sugioka et. al. tested various formulations of uPSP to study surface roughness effects on a Common Research Model (CRM) in transonic flow. The influence of uPSP on the surface of the model, depending on how it was formulated, was noted to have the possibility of relocating the shock wave present in the flow. This study was conducted to examine and compare transducer data acquired in December 2017 of a 4% scale model of the Space Launch System (SLS) performed at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel (UPWT). One goal of the test was to demonstrate to the customer the potential of the uPSP system developed at NASA ARC. The effect of uPSP on transducer signals also became an interest in this experiment and is the reason for this data analysis. The results of this study were discussed with the SLS team to help them make decisions regarding the next test on an SLS model with the PSP and Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel teams.

pressure-sensitive paint↗

A method for modifying two-dimensional adaptive wind-tunnel walls including analytical and experimental verification

The theoretical development of a simple and consistent method for removing the interference in adaptive-wall wind tunnels is reported. A Cauchy integral formulation of the velocities in an imaginary infinite extension of the real wind-tunnel flow is obtained and evaluated on a closed contour dividing the real and imaginary flow. The contour consists of the upper and lower effective wind-tunnel walls (wall plus boundary-layer displacement thickness) and upstream and downstream boundaries perpendicular to the axial tunnel flow. The resulting integral expressions for the streamwise and normal perturbation velocities on the contour are integrated by assuming a linear variation of the velocities between data-measurement stations along the contour. In an iterative process, the velocity components calculated on the upper and lower boundaries are then used to correct the shape of the wall to remove the interference. Convergence of the technique is shown numerically for the cases of a circular cylinder and a lifting and nonlifting NACA 0012 airfoil in incompressible flow. Experimental convergence at a transonic Mach number is demonstrated by using an NACA 0012 airfoil at zero lift.

Everhart, J. L.↗

Some measurements of time and space correlation in wind tunnel

Results are presented of research obtained by means of an apparatus for measurement of time and space correlation and of a spectral analyzer in the study of the longitudinal component of turbulence velocities in a wind tunnel downstream of a grid of meshes. Application to the case of a flat-plate boundary layer is illustrated. These researches were made at the Laboratoire de Mecanique de l'Atmosphere de l'I.M.F.M. for the O.N.E.R.A.

RESEARCH TECHNIQUE, AERODYNAMICS↗

Results for the hybrid laminar flow control experiment conducted in the NASA Langley 8-foot transonic pressure tunnel on a 7-foot chord model

A description is given of the development of, and results from, the hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) experiment conducted in the NASA LaRC 8 ft Transonic Pressure Tunnel on a 7 ft chord, 23 deg swept model. The methods/codes used to obtain the contours of the HLFC model surface and to define the suction requirements are outlined followed by a discussion of the model construction, suction system, instrumentation, and some example results from the wind tunnel tests. Included in the latter are the effects of Mach number, suction level, and the extent of suction. An assessment is also given of the effect of the wind tunnel environment on the suction requirements. The data show that, at or near the design Mach number, large extents of laminar flow can be achieved with suction mass flows over the first 25 percent, or less, of the chord. Top surface drag coefficients with suction extending from the near leading edge to 20 percent of the chord were approximately 40 percent lower than those obtained with no suction. The results indicate that HLFC can be designed for transonic speeds with lift and drag coefficients approaching those of LFC designs but with much smaller extents and levels of suction.

Bobbitt, Percy J.↗

ARES I Aerodynamic Testing at the NASA Langley Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

Small-scale force and moment and pressure models based on the outer mold lines of the Ares I design analysis cycle crew launch vehicle were tested in the NASA Langley Research Center Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel from May 2006 to September 2009. The test objectives were to establish supersonic ascent aerodynamic databases and to obtain force and moment, surface pressure, and longitudinal line-load distributions for comparison to computational predictions. Test data were obtained at low through high supersonic Mach numbers for ranges of the Reynolds number, angle of attack, and roll angle. This paper focuses on (1) the sensitivity of the supersonic aerodynamic characteristics to selected protuberances, outer mold line changes, and wind tunnel boundary layer transition techniques, (2) comparisons of experimental data to computational predictions, and (3) data reproducibility. The experimental data obtained in the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel captured the effects of evolutionary changes to the Ares I crew launch vehicle, exhibited good agreement with predictions, and displayed satisfactory within-test and tunnel-to-tunnel data reproducibility.

Erickson, Gary E.↗

Reynolds number effects on boattail drag of exhaust nozzles from wind tunnel and flight tests

A family of nacelle mounted high angle boattail nozzles was tested to investigate Reynolds number effects on drag. The nozzles were flown on a modified F-106B and mounted on scale models of a F-106 in a wind tunnel. A 19- to 1-range of Reynolds number was covered as a result of the large size differences between models and by flying over a range of altitude. In flight, the nozzles were mounted behind J-85 turbojet engines. Jet boundary simulators and a powered turbojet engine simulator were used on the wind tunnel models. Data were taken at Mach numbers of 0.6 and 0.9. Boattail drag was found to be affected by boattail number. The effect is a complex relationship dependent upon boundary layer thickness and nozzle boattail shape. As Reynolds number was increased from the lowest values obtained with scale models, boattail drag first increased to a maximum at the lowest flight Reynolds number and then decreased.

Wilcox, F. A.↗

Reynolds number effects on boattail drag of exhaust nozzles from wind tunnel and flight tests

A family of nacelle mounted high angle boattail nozzles was tested to investigate Reynolds number effects on drag. The nozzles were flown on a modified F-106B and mounted on scale models of an F-106 in a wind tunnel. A 19- to 1-range of Reynolds number was covered as a result of the large size differences between models and by flying over a range of altitude. In flight the nozzles were mounted behind J-85 turbojet engines. Jet boundary simulators and a powered turbojet engine simulator were used on the wind tunnel models. Data were taken at Mach numbers of 0.6 and 0.9. Boattail drag was found to be affected by Reynolds number. The effect is a complex relationship dependent upon boundary layer thickness and nozzle boattail shape. As Reynolds number was increased from the lowest values obtained with scale models, boattail drag first increased to a maximum at the lowest flight Reynolds number and then decreased.

Wilcox, F. A.↗