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At least 613 records · Page 34

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NASA NTRS1992

Investigation of three-dimensional flow field in a turbine including rotor/stator interaction. II - Three-dimensional flow field at the exit of the nozzle

The nozzle exit flowfield was measured at two axial locations with a miniature five-hole probe. Measurements were taken from hub-to-tip, blade-to-blade at 21 radial locations and at two axial locations downstream of the nozzle trailing edge to resolve the flowfield accurately including the nozzle wake, secondary flow region, horseshoe vortex and losses. All three components of the velocity, stagnation pressure, static pressure, and pitch and yaw angles have been resolved very accurately. The wake data seems to indicate that the decay of the wake is faster than the wake of an isolated nozzle row. The cause of this is attributed to the presence of the rotor downstream. A distinct vortex core has been observed near the tip. The indications are that the horseshoe vortex and the passage vortex have merged to produce a single loss core region. Roughly a third of the blade height passage near the tip and a third of the blade height near the hub is dominated by secondary flow, passage vortex and the horseshoe vortex phenomena. Only the middle third of the nozzle behaves as per design. These and other data are presented, interpreted and synthesized to understand the nozzle flowfield.

Zaccaria, M.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Farfield structure of an aircraft trailing vortex, including effects of mass injection

Wind tunnel tests to predict the aircraft wake turbulence due to the tip trailing vortex are discussed. A yawhead pressure probe was used in a subsonic wind tunnel to obtain detailed mean flow measurements at stations up to 30 chordlengths downstream in an aircraft trailing vortex. Mass injection at the wingtip was shown to hasten the decay of the trailing vortex. A theoretical method is presented to show the effect which the circulation distribution on the wing has on the structure of the outer portion of the vortex.

Mason, W. H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Standard test case for a low-speed, turbulent junction vortex flow

The mean flow structure upstream, around within, and in the near wake of a turbulent junction or horseshoe vortex is reported for an incompressible subsonic flow. Measurements of the primitive variables of velocity and pressure are reported on all surfaces bounding the region of the vortex flow and on three transverse and one streamwise plane within the flowfield itself for comparisons between the measured and any calculated flow variables. Detailed surface flow visualizations and some direct force measurements of surface shear stress are also available. The data is a highly detailed, coherent, self-consistent set offered to the computational fluid mechanics community as a standard test case for the evaluation of the capability of numerical solvers intended for predicting the flowfield in such a complex, separated, three-dimensional turbulent flow. This data base is available for copying to user supplied tapes or for transmission via BITNET, as well as in two National Technical Information Service (NTIS) reports.

Pierce, F. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

New free-wake analysis of rotorcraft hover performance using influence coefficients

Free-wake analyses of helicopter rotor wakes in hover using time stepping have been shown to encounter instabilities which preclude convergence to valid free-vortex solutions for rotor-wake geometries. Previous work has demonstrated that these convergence difficulties can be overcome by implementing a new free-wake analysis method based on the use of influence coefficients. The present paper reviews this approach and documents its incorporation into a hover performance analysis called Evaluation of Hover Performance using Influence Coefficients (EHPIC). The technical principles underlying the EHPIC code are described with emphasis on steps taken to develop the single-filament wake models used in previous work into a multifilament wake valid for realistic hover performance predictions. The coupling of the wake model to a lifting surface loads analysis is described, and sample problems are solved that illustrate the robustness of the method. Performance calculations are also undertaken for hover to illustrate the utility of EHPIC in the analysis of rotorcraft performance.

Quackenbush, Todd R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A three-dimensional solution of flows over wings with leading-edge vortex separation

The application of a new, general, potential flow computational technique to the solution of the subsonic, three-dimensional flow over wings with leading-edge vortex separation is presented. The present method is capable of predicting forces, moments, and detailed surface pressures on thin, sharp-edged wings of rather arbitrary planform. The wing geometry is arbitrary in the sense that leading and trailing edges may be curved or kinked and the wing may have arbitrary camber and twist. The method employs an inviscid flow model in which the wing, the rolled-up vortex sheets, and the wake are represented by piecewise continuous quadratic doublet sheet distributions. The Kutta condition is imposed along all wing edges. Strengths of the doublet distributions as well as shape and position of the free fortex sheet spirals are computed in iterative fashion starting with an assumed initial sheet geometry. The method is verified by numerous computed results.

Weber, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Some observations of separated flow on finite wings

Wind tunnel test results for aspects of flow over airfoils exhibiting single and multiple trailing edge stall 'mushroom' cells are reported. Rectangular wings with aspect ratios of 4.0 and 9.0 were tested at Reynolds numbers of 480,000 and 257,000, respectively. Surface flow patterns were visualized by means of a fluorescent oil flow technique, separated flow was observed with a tuft wand and a water probe, spanwise flow was studied with hot-wire anemometry, smoke flow and an Ar laser illuminated the centerplane flow, and photographs were made of the oil flow patterns. Swirl patterns on partially and fully stalled wings suggested vortex flow attachments in those regions, and a saddle point on the fully stalled AR=4.0 wing indicated a secondary vortex flow at the forward region of the separation bubble. The separation wake decayed downstream, while the tip vortex interacted with the separation bubble on the fully stalled wing. Three mushroom cells were observed on the AR=9.0 wing.

Winkelmann, A. E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A cooperative program to stimulate student involvement through the MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program

Flow characteristics in the low speed Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel were studied. Calculations to check the precision of the tunnel were conducted. A program for generating computational grids around an airfoil was developed and compared with the wind tunnel model. Low Reynolds number flow phenomenon of periodic vortex shedding in a wake were also studied by applying a hot-wire anomemeter.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1984

Hot wire in low Reynolds number flow

Progress reports were issued on the following experiments: (1) low Reynolds number flow phenomenon of periodic vortex shedding in the wake behind a cylinder as studied by applying the hot wire anemometer technique of flow measurement. The downstream diffusion of these shed vortices was of prime concern. An evaluation of the performance of the hot wire at low Reynolds number is also considered. (2) A brief examination of the back sections of the Wright Brothers wind tunnel circuits were conducted to establish whether or not gross flow deviations were present at corners, or turning vane regions. A calibration of the test sections was done. (3) The attractiveness of using rembedded grids for airfoil calculations modeled by the Euler equations was explored. These calculations were extended to C-type grids and then to Navier-Stokes calculations,

Kolb, M. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

A review of some Reynolds number effects related to bodies at high angles of attack

A review of some effects of Reynolds number on selected aerodynamic characteristics of two- and three-dimensional bodies of various cross sections in relation to fuselages at high angles of attack at subsonic and transonic speeds is presented. Emphasis is placed on the Reynolds number ranges above the subcritical and angles of attack where lee side vortex flow or unsteady wake type flows predominate. Lists of references, arranged in subject categories, are presented with emphasis on those which include data over a reasonable Reynolds number range. Selected Reynolds number data representative of various aerodynamic flows around bodies are presented and analyzed and some effects of these flows on fuselage aerodynamic parameters are discussed.

Polhamus, E. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

An experimental study of airfoil-spoiler aerodynamics

The steady/unsteady flow field generated by a typical two dimensional airfoil with a statically deflected flap type spoiler was investigated. Subsonic wind tunnel tests were made over a range of parameters: spoiler deflection, angle of attack, and two Reynolds numbers; and comprehensive measurements of the mean and fluctuating surface pressures, velocities in the boundary layer, and velocities in the wake. Schlieren flow visualization of the near wake structure was performed. The mean lift, moment, and surface pressure characteristics are in agreement with previous investigations of spoiler aerodynamics. At large spoiler deflections, boundary layer character affects the static pressure distribution in the spoiler hingeline region; and, the wake mean velocity fields reveals a closed region of reversed flow aft of the spoiler. It is shown that the unsteady flow field characteristics are as follows: (1) the unsteady nature of the wake is characterized by vortex shedding; (2) the character of the vortex shedding changes with spoiler deflection; (3) the vortex shedding characteristics are in agreement with other bluff body investigations; and (4) the vortex shedding frequency component of the fluctuating surface pressure field is of appreciable magnitude at large spoiler deflections. The flow past an airfoil with deflected spoiler is a particular problem in bluff body aerodynamics is considered.

Mclachlan, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Aerodynamic analysis of a horizontal axis wind turbine by use of helical vortex theory, volume 2: Computer program users manual

A description of a computer program entitled VORTEX that may be used to determine the aerodynamic performance of horizontal axis wind turbines is given. The computer code implements a vortex method from finite span wind theory and determines the induced velocity at the rotor disk by integrating the Biot-Savart law. It is assumed that the trailing helical vortex filaments form a wake of constant diameter (the rigid wake assumption) and travel downstream at the free stream velocity. The program can handle rotors having any number of blades which may be arbitrarily shaped and twisted. Many numerical details associated with the program are presented. A complete listing of the program is provided and all program variables are defined. An example problem illustrating input and output characteristics is solved.

Keith, T. G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Energetics of oscillating lifting surfaces using integral conservation laws

The energetics of oscillating flexible lifting surfaces in two and three dimensions is calculated by the use of integral conservation laws in inviscid incompressible flow for general and harmonic transverse oscillations. Total thrust is calculated from the momentum theorem and energy loss rate due to vortex shedding in the wake from the principle of conservation of mechanical energy. Total power required to maintain the oscillations and hydrodynamic efficiency are also determined. In two dimensions, the results are obtained in closed form. In three dimensions, the distribution of vorticity on the lifting surface is also required as input to the calculations. Thus, unsteady lifting-surface theory must be used as well. The analysis is applicable to oscillating lifting surfaces of arbitrary planform, aspect ratio, and reduced frequency and does not require calculation of the leading-edge thrust.

Ahmadi, Ali R.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Numerical simulation of a subsonic jet in a crossflow

The aerodynamic/propulsive interaction between a subsonic jet exhausting perpendicularly through a flat plate into a crossflow is investigated numerically using an approximately factored, partially flux-split, implicit solver for the three-dimensional, thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. This algorithm is applied to flows with a range of jet-to-crossflow velocity ratios between 4 and 8. The computations model the jet trajectory, the contrarotating vortex pair and the wake region near the plate downstream of the jet orifice. Both qualitative and quantitative agreement with the existing experimental database are demonstrated. Flow visualization is instructive for understanding the physics of this flowfield.

Roth, Karlin R.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Numerical investigation of the origin of vortex asymmetry

The flow about a slender body of revolution placed at incidence to an oncoming stream is numerically investigated for angles of attack ranging from 20 to 80 degrees and a Reynolds number of 200,000, based on freestream conditions and maximum body diameter. Navier-Stokes computations are applied to investigate the phenomena governing the onset of vortex asymmetry. Time-accurate solutions are given for an ogive-cylinder body with and without a space-fixed time-invariant disturbance added near the tip. At a 40-degree angle of attack the flow is found to be steady but becomes highly asymmetric when the disturbance is added. The level of asymmetry is dependent upon the size and location of the disturbance. It is suggested that the origin of the asymmetry is a convective-type instability of the originally symmetric flow. For higher angles of attack (60 and 80 degrees) the flow around the cylindrical part becomes unsteady, and vortex shedding is observed. It is suggested that the origin of flow unsteadiness and vortex shedding in the wake is an absolute-type instability of the originally steady flow.

Degani, David↗

NASA NTRS1991

Comparison of SMAC, PISO, and iterative time-advancing schemes for unsteady flows

Calculations of unsteady flows using a simplified marker and cell (SMAC), a pressure implicit splitting of operators (PSIO), and an iterative time advancing scheme (ITA) are presented. A partial differential equation for incremental pressure is used in each time advancing scheme. Example flows considered are a polar cavity flow starting from rest and self-sustained oscillating flows over a circular and a square cylinder. For a large time step size, the SMAC and ITA are more strongly convergent and yield more accurate results than PSIO. The SMAC is the most efficient computationally. For a small time step size, the three time advancing schemes yield equally accurate Strouhal numbers. The capability of each time advancing scheme to accurately resolve unsteady flows is attributed to the use of new pressure correction algorithm that can strongly enforce the conservation of mass. The numerical results show that the low frequency of the vortex shedding is caused by the growth time of each vortex shed into the wake region.

Kim, Sang-Wook↗

NASA NTRS1991

Analysis and design of planar and non-planar wings for induced drag minimization

Improvements in the aerodynamic efficiency of commercial transport aircraft will reduce fuel usage with subsequent reduced cost, both monetary and environmental. To this end, the current research is aimed at reducing the overall drag of these aircraft with specific emphasis on reducing the drag generated by the lifting surfaces. The ultimate goal of this program is to create a wing design methodology which optimizes the geometry of the wing for lowest total drag within the constraints of a particular design specification. The components of drag which must be considered include profile drag, and wave drag. Profile drag is dependent upon, among other things, the airfoil section and the total wetted area. Induced drag, which is manifested as energy left in the wake by the trailing vortex system is mostly a function of wing span, but also depends on other geometric wing parameters. Wave drag of the wing, important in the transonic flight regime, is largely affected by the airfoil section, wing sweep, and so forth. The optimization problem is that of assessing the various parameters which contribute to the different components of wing drag, and determining the wing geometry which generates the best overall performance for a given aircraft mission. The primary thrust of the research effort to date was in the study of induced drag. Results from the study are presented.

Straussfogel, Dennis M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Prediction of drag at subsonic and transonic speeds using Euler methods

A technique for the evaluation of aerodynamic drag from flowfield solutions based on the Euler equations is discussed. The technique is limited to steady attached flows around three-dimensional configurations in the absence of active systems such as surface blowing/suction and propulsion. It allows the decomposition of the total drag into induced drag and wave drag and, consequently, it provides more information on the drag sources than the conventional surface-pressure integration technique. The induced drag is obtained from the integration of the kinetic energy (per unit distance) of the trailing vortex system on a wake plane and the wave drag is obtained from the integration of the entropy production on a plane just downstream of the shocks. The drag-evaluation technique is applied to three-dimensional flowfield solutions for the ONERA M6 wing as well as an aspect-ratio-7 wing with an elliptic spanwise chord distribution and an NACA-0012 section shape. Comparisons between the drag obtained with the present technique and the drag based on the integration of surface pressures are presented for two Euler codes.

Nikfetrat, K.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Comparison of the SMAC, PISO, and iterative time-advancing schemes for unsteady flows

Calculations of unsteady flows using a simplified marker and cell (SMAC), a pressure implicit splitting of operators (PISO), and an iterative time advancing scheme (ITA) are presented. A partial differential equation for incremental pressure is used in each time advancing scheme. Example flows considered are a polar cavity flow starting from rest and self-sustained oscillating flows over a circular and a square cylinder. For a large time step size, the SMAC and ITA are more strongly convergent and yield more accurate results than PISO. The SMAC is the most efficient computationally. For a small time step size, the three time advancing schemes yield equally accurate Strouhal numbers. The capability of each time advancing scheme to accurately resolve unsteady flows is attributed to the use of new pressure correction algorithm that can strongly enforce the conservation of mass. The numerical results show that the low frequency of the vortex shedding is caused by the growth time of each vortex shed into the wake region.

Kim, S.-W.↗