Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “AXIAL RATIO”

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 613 records · Page 34

Effect of outer-cylinder rotation on the radially heated Taylor–Couette flow

A Taylor–Couette setup with radial heating is considered where a Boussinesq fluid is sheared in the annular region between two concentric, independently rotating cylinders maintained at different temperatures. Linear stability analysis is performed to determine the Taylor number for the onset of instability. Two radius ratios corresponding to wide and thin gaps with several rotation rate ratios are considered. The rotation of the outer cylinder is found to have a general stabilizing effect on the stability threshold as compared to pure inner-cylinder rotation, with a few exceptions. The radial heating sets up an axial flow which breaks the reflection symmetry of isothermal Taylor–Couette flow in the axial coordinate. This symmetry breaking separates linear stability thresholds, and we find the fastest growing modes with both positive and negative azimuthal numbers for different parameters. Another important finding of the current study is the discovery of unstable modes in the Rayleigh-stable regime. Furthermore, closed disconnected neutral curves (CDNCs) are observed for both wide and thin gaps which can separate from or merge into open neutral–stability curves. Alternatively, CDNCs can also morph into open neutral stability curves as the rotation rate ratio is changed. CDNCs are observed to be sensitive to changes in control parameters, and their appearance/disappearance is shown to induce discontinuous jumps in the critical Taylor number. Finally, for both wide and thin gaps, the fastest-growing modes found in the pure corotation case are shown to have their origins in the instability islands at smaller values of rotation rate ratios.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Stress Intensity Factors for Part-Through Surface Cracks in Hollow Cylinders

Flaws resulting from improper welding and forging are usually modeled as cracks in flat plates, hollow cylinders or spheres. The stress intensity factor solutions for these crack cases are of great practical interest. This report describes some recent efforts at improving the stress intensity factor solutions for cracks in such geometries with emphasis on hollow cylinders. Specifically, two crack configurations for cylinders are documented. One is that of a surface crack in an axial plane and the other is a part-through thumb-nail crack in a circumferential plane. The case of a part-through surface crack in flat plates is used as a limiting case for very thin cylinders. A combination of the two cases for cylinders is used to derive a relation for the case of a surface crack in a sphere. Solutions were sought which cover the entire range of the geometrical parameters such as cylinder thickness, crack aspect ratio and crack depth. Both the internal and external position of the cracks are considered for cylinders and spheres. The finite element method was employed to obtain the basic solutions. Power-law form of loading was applied in the case of flat plates and axial cracks in cylinders and uniform tension and bending loads were applied in the case of circumferential (thumb-nail) cracks in cylinders. In the case of axial cracks, the results for tensile and bending loads were used as reference solutions in a weight function scheme so that the stress intensity factors could be computed for arbitrary stress gradients in the thickness direction. For circumferential cracks, since the crack front is not straight, the above technique could not be used. Hence for this case, only the tension and bending solutions are available at this time. The stress intensity factors from the finite element method were tabulated so that results for various geometric parameters such as crack depth-to-thickness ratio (a/t), crack aspect ratio (a/c) and internal radius-to-thickness ratio (R/t) or the crack length-to-width ratio (2c/W) could be obtained by interpolation and extrapolation. Such complete tables were then incorporated into the NASA/FLAGRO computer program which is widely used by the aerospace community for fracture mechanics analysis.

Mettu, Sambi R.↗

Uncertainties and Limitations of Experimental Thrust and Pressure Gain Measurements in a Rotating Detonation Combustor

Experimentally measuring the pressure gain through the method of equivalent available pressure is prone to many experimental uncertainties. This study performs a detailed uncertainty analysis of the thrust and pressure gain measurements utilizing data from a H2/air operated rotating detonation combustor with an axial air inlet and a 50% exit constriction. The measured (negative) pressure gain values agree with the results in literature for similar inlet-to-exit area ratios. Specific considerations are given to the uncertainty in thrust measurement introduced by the base drag correction on the inner-body. The assumed unity Mach number utilized in the equivalent available pressure methodology is evaluated experimentally with two different methods using time-averaged measurements at the exhaust plane. A definitive demonstration of gain will be challenging given the assessed uncertainties, but recommendations are given to increase the precision of the equivalent available pressure methodology to estimate pressure gain.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Numerical analysis and parametric studies of the buckling of composite orthotropic compression and shear panels

A computer program is presented which was developed for the combined compression and shear of stiffened variable thickness orthotropic composite panels on discrete springs: boundary conditions are general and include elastic boundary restraints. Buckling solutions are obtained by using a newly developed trigonometric finite difference procedure which improves the solution convergence rate over conventional finite difference methods. The classical general shear buckling results which exist only for simply supported panels over a limited range of orthotropic properties, were extended to the complete range of these properties for simply supported panels and, in addition, to the complete range of orthotropic properties for clamped panels. The program was also applied to parametric studies which examine the effect of filament orientation upon the buckling of graphite-epoxy panels. These studies included an examination of the filament orientations which yield maximum shear or compressive buckling strength for panels having all four edges simply supported or clamped over a wide range of aspect ratios. Panels with such orientations had higher buckling loads than comparable, equal weight, thin skinned aluminum panels. Also included among the parameter studies were examinations of combined axial compression and shear buckling and examinations of panels with rotational elastic edge restraints.

Housner, J. M.↗

Experimental performance of a 16.10-centimeter-tip-diameter sweptback centrifugal compressor designed for a 6:1 pressure ratio

A backswept impeller with design mass flow rate of 1.033 kg/sec was tested with both a vaned diffuser and a vaneless diffuser to establish stage and impeller characteristics. Design stage pressure ratio of 5.9:1 was attained at a flow slightly lower than the design value. Flow range at design speed was 6 percent of choking flow. Impeller axial tip clearance at design speed was varied to determine effect on stage and impeller performance.

Klassen, H. A.↗

Effect of location in an array on heat transfer to a cylinder in crossflow

An experiment was conducted to measure the heat transfer from a heated cylinder in crossflow in an array of circular cylinders. All cylinders had a length-to-diameter ratio of 3.0. Both in-line and staggered array patterns were studied. The cylinders were spaced 2.67 diameters apart center-to-center in both the axial and transverse directions to the flow. The row containing the heated cylinder remained in a fixed position in the channel and the relative location of this row within the array was changed by adding up to five upstream rows. The working fluid was nitrogen gas at pressures from 100 to 600 kPa. The Reynolds number ranged based on cylinder diameter and average unobstructed channel velocity was from 5,000 to 125,000. Turbulence intensity: profiles were measured for each case at a point one half space upstream of the row containing the heated cylinder. The basis of comparison for all the heat transfer data was the single row with the heated cylinder. For the in-line cases the addition of a single row of cylinders upstream of the row containing the heated cylinder increased the heat transfer by an average of 50 percent above the base case. Adding up to five more rows caused no increase or decrease in heat transfer. Adding rows in the staggered array cases resulted in average increases in heat transfer of 21, 64, 58, 46, and 46 percent for one to five upstream rows, respectively.

Simoneau, R. J.↗

Effect of location in an array on heat transfer to a short cylinder in crossflow

An experiment was conducted to measure the heat transfer from a heated cylinder in crossflow in an array of circular cylinders. All cylinders had a length-to-diameter ratio of 3.0. Both in-line and staggered array patterns were studied. The cylinders were spaced 2.67 diameters apart center-to-center in both the axial and transverse directions to the flow. The row containing the heated cylinder remained in a fixed position in the channel and the relative location of this row within the array was changed by adding up to five upstream rows. The working fluid was nitrogen gas at pressures from 100 to 600 kPa. The Reynolds number range based on cylinder diameter and average unobstructed channel velocity was from 5,000 to 125,000. Turbulence intensity profiles were measured for each case at a point one half space upstream of the row containing the heated cylinder. The basis of comparison for all the heat transfer data was the single row with the heated cylinder. For the in-line cases the addition of a single row of cylinders upstream of the row containing the heated cylinder increased the heat transfer by an average of 50 percent above the base case. Adding up to five more rows caused no increase or decrease in heat transfer. Adding rows in the staggered array cases resulted in average increases in heat transfer of 21, 64, 58, 46, and 46 percent for one to five upstream rows, respectively. Previously announced in STAR as N82-19493

Simoneau, R. J.↗

One-dimensional thermal modeling of vertical Bridgman-type crystal growth

Articles by Naumann (1982) and Jasinski et al. (1983) examined the axial temperature distribution of the charge during vertical Bridgman-type crystal growth. A comparison of their results demonstrates that Naumann's model is applicable for K (ratio of crucible to charge thermal conductivity) equal to or greater than 1 or for small Biot numbers. The Jasinski model provides a correction for larger Biot numbers and is also applicable for small values of K.

Jasinski, T.↗

Circular-to-rectangular duct flows - A benchmark experimental study

A comprehensive set of total pressure and three-component laser velocimetry (LV) data has been obtained within two-circular-to-rectangular transition ducts at low subsonic speeds. This set of reference data was acquired for use in identifying secondary flow mechanisms and for assessing the accuracy of computational procedures for calculating such flows. Data were obtained at the inlet and exit planes of an aspect ratio three (AR3) duct having a length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) of one (1) and an aspect ratio six (AR6) duct having an L/D of three (3). Each duct was unseparated throughout its transition section. Cross-flow-vector plots and contour plots of axial velocity, total pressure, static pressure, axial turbulence, and axial vorticity in the exit plane of each duct are presented.

Patrick, William P.↗

Measurement of the static and dynamic coefficients of a cross-type parachute in subsonic flow

An experimental parametric investigation of the aerodynamic qualities of cross-type parachutes was performed in a subsonic wind tunnel, using a new experimental technique. This investigation included the measurement of the static and dynamic aerodynamic coefficients, utilizing the measuring apparatus modified specifically for this type of testing. It is shown that the static aerodynamic coefficients of several configurations are in good agreement with available data, and assisted in validating the experimental technique employed. Two configuration parameters were varied in the static tests, the cord length and the canopy aspect ratio, with both parameters having a similar effect on the drag measurement, i.e., any increase in either of them increased the effective blocking area, and therefore the axial force.

Shpund, Zalman↗

Design parameters for rotating cylindrical filtration

Rotating cylindrical filtration displays significantly reduced plugging of filter pores and build-up of a cake layer, but the number and range of parameters that can be adjusted complicates the design of these devices. Twelve individual parameters were investigated experimentally by measuring the build-up of particles on the rotating cylindrical filter after a fixed time of operation. The build-up of particles on the filter depends on the rotational speed, the radial filtrate flow, the particle size and the gap width. Other parameters, such as suspension concentration and total flow rate are less important. Of the four mechanisms present in rotating filters to reduce pore plugging and cake build-up, axial shear, rotational shear, centrifugal sedimentation and vortical motion, the evidence suggests rotational shear is the dominant mechanism, although the other mechanisms still play minor roles. The ratio of the shear force acting parallel to the filter surface on a particle to the Stokes drag acting normal to the filter surface on the particle due to the difference between particle motion and filtrate flow can be used as a non-dimensional parameter that predicts the degree of particle build-up on the filter surface for a wide variety of filtration conditions. c2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-NASA Center↗

Scanning and Defocusing Properties of Microstrip Reflectarray Antennas

A symmetric reflectarray, consisting of variable-size square patch elements with a commonly used mathematical model for the horn in the form of a cosine function, has been designed using the transmit mode technique for different f/D ratios with 10 dB edge taper. Subsequently, the antennas were analyzed for the radiation pattern and gain. The infinite array model was used to determine the reflection phase of each patch element in the design and analysis codes. By displacing the feed laterally, the scan characteristics were obtained, such as the beam deviation factor, gain loss, and pattern degradation. The properties of reflect arrays were compared to those of the conventional paraboloidal reflectors. The same procedure was used to study the scan properties of offset reflectarrays. There is no cross-polarized radiation in the principal planes for a symmetric system. Cross-polarized radiation exists in non-principal planes off broadside in symmetric systems, with greater levels for larger values of subtended angles. Such cross-polarized radiation level increases with subtended angle just as cross-polarization level increases with decreasing values of f/D ratios for symmetric paraboloids in non-principal planes. Pattern distortions and gain loss were found to be more severe in the case of a microstrip reflectarray compared to the conventional parabolic reflector. The scan performance of the reflect arrays was found to improve with f/D ratios as is true for paraboloids. In general, scanning by means of displaced feed is limited to a few beam - widths in reflectarrays. Feed displacement in the axial direction of a symmetric reflectarray was investigated and compared to that of paraboloids. The gain loss due to the defocused feed of a reflectarray was found to be nearly the same as that of a paraboloid of the same subtended angle for larger values of f/D, and for displacements away from the antenna. The gain loss of an axially defocused reflectarray was found to be greater than that of a paraboloid for displacements closer to the antenna, especially for smaller values of f/D. In general, the performance of a defocused reflectarray was found to be poorer than that of a comparable paraboloid reflector.

Rengarajan, Sembiam↗

Flow Development in Radial Plane of Rotating Detonation Engine Integrated with Aerospike

In this study, axial and radial velocity components are measured downstream of a rotating detonation engine (RDE) integrated with an aerospike by using particle image velocimetry (PIV) at 100 kHz. The RDE is operated at high pressures obtained by restricting the RDE exit with a converging nozzle, which also directs the flow radially toward the aerospike. Reactants, methane fuel, and enriched air (67% oxygen and 33% nitrogen) are supplied from separate plenums at ambient temperature. PIV data are presented to investigate how pressure ratios within the RDE channel affect the flow evolution across the aerospike. The RDE is shown to operate stably and consistently in a single wave mode for all six test runs. The study highlights large temporal and spatial variations in both axial and radial flow velocities at the nozzle throat that persist downstream across the aerospike. Each point in the flowfield oscillates at the frequency recorded inside the RDE channel. Overall, the temporally and spatially varying aerospike flowfield is far from the ideal case of a uniform flow at its exit, and it points toward the need to condition the flow within the RDE channel to produce more uniform conditions at the nozzle throat.

Engineering↗

Performance of 15-Stage Experimental J71 Axial-Flow Compressor. III - Effects of Inlet-Guide-Vane Adjustment

The stall-limit line at low speeds was improved somewhat by closing the inlet guide vanes 6 deg, while the design-speed maximum flow and pressure ratio were reduced. The first-stage characteristic curve was moved to lower values of both flog coefficient and equivalent pressure ratio. The second-stage pressure ratio was decreased slightly at high speeds, while the later stages were unaffected.

Lucas, James G.↗

Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Magnetic Mirrors on Plasma Transport in the Prototype Material Plasma Exposure Experiment

The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing a helicon radio frequency (RF) source for plasma production along with microwave electron heating and RF ion heating. Proto-MPEX has several magnetic mirrors that affect plasma transport. The magnetic field near the helicon source is ~ 0.05 T, and the peak magnetic field in Proto-MPEX is ~ 1.8 T, which results in a large magnetic well for particles sourced at the helicon transporting toward the target region. Keeping the helicon source field and the target field constant, experiments have been conducted by methodically changing the magnetic field, at a local axial location, within the source and the target. Plasma flow measurements using Mach probes have shown a decrease in the flow as a function of the magnetic mirror ratio. Plasma flows were further investigated with ion cyclotron resonant heating (ICH). Results with the addition of ICH measured upstream of the antenna have shown a decrease in Mach number as a function of mirror ratio when compared to helicon discharges. Such flow behavior demonstrated slowing down of the plasma due to the increased reverse plasma flow toward the helicon plasma source. However, in high magnetic fields, when the resonant magnetic field moved away from the ICH antenna, no effects on the plasma flow due to ICH were observed.

Kafle, Nischal↗

Evaluation of Uncertainties of Pressure Gain Measurements in Rotating Detonation Combustor

Experimentally measuring the pressure gain of a rotating detonation combustor through the method of equivalent available pressure is prone to many experimental uncertainties. A detailed analysis of sources of random and systematic uncertainties in the thrust and pressure gain is performed using data from a hydrogen/air-operated rotating detonation combustor. The combustor had an axial air inlet and a 50% exit constriction. The measured (negative) pressure gain values agree with the results in the literature for similar inlet-to-exit area ratios. The base drag correction on the centerbody was found to be the greatest source of uncertainty for the thrust. While thrust is the predominant source of random uncertainty in the pressure gain calculation, significant systematic errors can be committed due to the assumed exit Mach number. The impact of this assumption becomes more detrimental the closer to positive the measured pressure gain is. By experimentally evaluating the exit Mach number, the random and systematic uncertainty in pressure gain both decreased, indicating that this should be an essential step. A definitive demonstration of gain is challenging, given the assessed uncertainties, and recommendations are provided to increase the precision of the equivalent available pressure methodology.

Engineering↗

Optimum performance of hovering rotors

A theory for the optimum performance of a rotor hovering out of ground effect is developed. The performance problem is formulated using general momentum theory for an infinitely bladed rotor, and the effect of a finite number of blades is estimated. The analysis takes advantage of the fact that a simple relation exists between the radial distributions of static pressure and angular velocity in the ultimate wake, far downstream of the rotor, since the radial velocity vanishes there. This relation permits the establishment of an optimum performance criterion in terms of the ultimate wake velocities by introducing a small local perturbation of the rotational velocity and requiring the resulting ratio of thrust and power changes to be independent of the radial location of the perturbation. This analysis fully accounts for the changes in static pressure distribution and axial velocity distribution throughout the wake as the result of the local perturbation of the rotational velocity component.

Wu, J. C.↗

Nonlinear fracture mechanics-based analysis of thin wall cylinders

This paper presents a simple analysis technique to predict the crack initiation, growth, and rupture of large-radius, R, to thickness, t, ratio (thin wall) cylinders. The method is formulated to deal both with stable tearing as well as fatigue mechanisms in applications to both surface and through-wall axial cracks, including interacting surface cracks. The method can also account for time-dependent effects. Validation of the model is provided by comparisons of predictions to more than forty full scale experiments of thin wall cylinders pressurized to failure.

Brust, Frederick W.↗