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At least 73 records · Page 4

Aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, and stability of hang gliders. Experimental results

One-fifth-scale models of three basic ultralight glider designs were constructed to simulate the elastic properties of full scale gliders and were tested at Reynolds numbers close to full scale values. Twenty-four minor modifications were made to the basic configurations in order to evaluate the effects of twist, reflex, dihedral, and various stability enhancement devices. Longitudinal and lateral data were obtained at several speeds through an angle of attack range of -30 deg to +45 deg with sideslip angles of up to 20 deg. The importance of vertical center of gravity displacement is discussed. Lateral data indicate that effective dihedral is lost at low angles of attack for nearly all of the configurations tested. Drag data suggest that lift-dependent viscous drag is a large part of the glider's total drag as is expected for thin, cambered sections at these relatively low Reynolds numbers.

Kroo, I. M.↗

Test section configuration for aerodynamic testing in shock tubes

This paper presents results of a study of the test section configuration required to minimize or alleviate interference effects on model flow produced by the presence of test section walls in the aerodynamic testing of two dimensional transonic airfoils in a shock tube. Tests at a nominal Mach number of 0.85 and a chord Reynolds number of 2,000,000 were carried out by means of schlieren photography and pressure measurements for several symmetric airfoil profiles using shock tube test sections with unmodified straight walls, contoured walls, and slotted walls with adjacent chambers. Results were compared with corresponding results from conventional wind tunnel tests of the airfoils. Results for the straight wall tests show major airfoil flow distortions. Results from contoured wall tests and those performed using a slotted wall test section developed in this study exhibit essential agreement with wind tunnel results. The collective results show that test sections for aerodynamic testing can be designed for shock tubes that will alleviate wall interference effects.

Cook, W. J.↗

Ares I Vehicle Computed Turbulent Ascent Aerodynamic Data Development and Analysis

An overview of the computational ascent aerodynamic data development from a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes flow solver for the Ares I vehicle design is presented. The computed results are assessed for grid and turbulence model effects and verified against the results obtained from other flow solvers. The numerical predictions are analyzed for the surface pressure, sectional line loads, longitudinal aerodynamic and rolling moment coefficients, and their trends with respect to angle of attack, Mach number, and the vehicle's roll angle. The results revealed that the solution development with the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model was the most robust, stable, and efficient. These predictions were generally found to compare well with experimental data. Relative to wind-tunnel flow conditions, the results at flight Reynolds number showed the largest reduction of about 7% in the computed longitudinal aerodynamic coefficients. Protuberance size and relative position were found to have a significant effect on the vehicle's force and moment coefficients. The strake concept was proposed and shown to reduce the vehicle's maximum rolling moment coefficient Results and analyses have demonstrated the feasibility of the present numerical method, as an engineering tool, for predicting the external flow aerodynamic characteristics of this class of vehicle designs.

Aerodynamic characteristics↗

Gamma-effects on 2-dimensional transonic aerodynamics

Nonlifting 10% biconvex airfoils are mounted in a 30 x 40 cm Ludwieg-tube-driven transonic test-section and the flow field recorded with a holographic interferometer. Nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide are used as the principal test gases. Experiments are conducted with Reynolds number based on chord of (0.5-3.5) x 10 to the 6th with Mach numbers of 0.70, 0.75, and 0.80. Supporting calculations use inviscid transonic small-disturbance and full-potential computer codes coupled with simple integral boundary-layer modeling. Systematic studies show that significant gamma-effects can occur due to shock-induced separation.

Tuzla, K.↗

Perspectives on hypersonic viscous and nonequilibrium flow research

An attempt is made to reflect on current focuses in certain areas of hypersonic flow research by examining recent works and their issues. Aspects of viscous interaction, flow instability, and nonequilibrium aerothermodynamics pertaining to theoretical interest are focused upon. The field is a diverse one, and many exciting works may have either escaped the writer's notice or been abandoned for the sake of space. Students of hypersonic viscous flow must face the transition problems towards the two opposite ends of the Reynolds or Knudsen number range, which represents two regimes where unresolved fluid/gas dynamic problems abound. Central to the hypersonic flow studies is high-temperature physical gas dynamics; here, a number of issues on modelling the intermolecular potentials and inelastic collisions remain the obstacles to quantitative predictions. Research in combustion and scramjet propulsion will certainly be benefitted by advances in turbulent mixing and new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) strategies on multi-scaled complex reactions. Even for the sake of theoretical development, the lack of pertinent experimental data in the right energy and density ranges is believed to be among the major obstacles to progress in aerothermodynamic research for hypersonic flight. To enable laboratory simulation of nonequilibrium effects anticipated for transatmospheric flight, facilities capable of generating high enthalpy flow at density levels higher than in existing laboratories are needed (Hornung 1988). A new free-piston shock tunnel capable of realizing a test-section stagnation temperature of 10(exp 5) at Reynolds number 50 x 10(exp 6)/cm is being completed and preliminary tests has begun (H. Hornung et al. 1992). Another laboratory study worthy of note as well as theoretical support is the nonequilibrium flow experiment of iodine vapor which has low activation energies for vibrational excitation and dissociation, and can be studied in a laboratory with modest resources (Pham-Van-Diep et al. 1992).

Cheng, H. K.↗

Reflection plane tests of a wind turbine blade tip section with ailerons

Tests were conducted in the NASA Langley 30 by 60 foot Wind Tunnel on a full scale 7.31 m (24 ft) long tip section of a wind turbine rotor blade. The blade tip section was built with ailerons on the trailing edge. The ailerons, which spanned a length of 6.1 m (20 ft), were designed so that two types could be evaluated: the plain and the balanced. The ailerons were hinged on the suction surface at the 0.62 X chord station behind the leading edge. The purpose of the tests was to measure the aerodynamic characteristics of the blade section for: an angle of attack range from 0 deg to 90 deg aileron deflections from 0 deg to -90 deg, and Reynolds numbers of 0.79 and 1.5 x 10 to the 6th power. These data were then used to determine which aileron configuration had the most desirable rotor control and aerodynamic braking characteristics. Tests were also run to determine the effects of vortex generators, leading edge roughness, and the gaps between the aileron sections on the lift, drag, and chordwise force coefficients of the blade tip section.

Savino, J. M.↗

Reynolds number tests of an NPL 9510 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

An investigation of the NPL 9510 airfoil was conducted in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel over the following ranges of test conditions: Mach number of 0.35 to 0.82, total temperature of 94 K to 300 K, total pressure of 1.20 to 5.81 atm, Reynolds number based on airfoil chord of 1.34 x 10 to the 6th power to 48.23 x 10 to the 6th power, and angle of attack of 0 deg to 6 deg. The drag creep previously reported by the British National Physics Laboratory at low Reynolds numbers was also found to be present at high Reynolds numbers; the section drag coefficient continued to decrease even at the highest Reynolds number tested. Tests made close to free-stream saturation did not produce altered aerodynamic coefficients due to condensation effects.

Jenkins, R. V.↗

Longitudinal aerodynamic performance of a series of power-law and minimum wave drag bodies at Mach 6 and several Reynolds numbers

Experimental data have been obtained for two series of bodies at Mach 6 and Reynolds numbers, based on model length, from 1.4 million to 9.5 million. One series consisted of axisymmetric power-law bodies geometrically constrained for constant length and base diameter with values of the exponent n of 0.25, 0.5, 0.6, 0.667, 0.75, and 1.0. The other series consisted of positively and negatively cambered bodies of polygonal cross section, each having a constant longitudinal area distribution conforming to that required for minimizing zero-lift wave drag at hypersonic speeds under the geometric constraints of given length and volume. At the highest Reynolds number, the power-law body for minimum drag is blunter (exponent n lower) than predicted by inviscid theory (n approximately 0.6 instead of n = 0.667); however, the peak value of lift-drag ratio occurs at n = 0.667. Viscous effects were present on the bodies of polygonal cross section but were less pronounced than those on the power-law bodies. The trapezoidal bodies with maximum width at the bottom were found to have the highest maximum lift-drag ratio and the lowest mimimum drag.

Ashby, G. C., Jr.↗

Time-dependent measurement of base pressure in a blowdown tunnel with varying unit Reynolds number

An operational characteristic of blowdown-type of wind tunnels is the drop in the stagnation temperature with time and the accompanying change in the test-section unit Reynolds number at constant stagnation pressure and Mach number. This apparent disadvantage can be turned to advantage in some cases where a Reynolds number scan is desired in order to study the effect of unit Reynolds number variation on a particular viscous flow phenomenon. This note presents such an instance arising from recent investigations on base pressure at transonic speeds conducted in the NAL 1-ft tunnel.

Kangovi, S.↗

The Determination of Forces and Moments on a Gimballed SRM Nozzle Using a Cold Flow Model

The Solid Rocket Motor Air Flow Facility (SAF) at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center was used to characterize the flow in the critical aft end and nozzle of a solid propellant rocket motor (SRM) as part of the design phase of development. The SAF is a high pressure, blowdown facility which supplies a controlled flow of air to a subscale model of the internal port and nozzle of a SRM to enable measurement and evaluation of the flow field and surface pressure distributions. The ASRM Aft Section/Nozzle Model is an 8 percent scale model of the 19 second burn time aft port geometry and nozzle of the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor, the now canceled new generation space Shuttle Booster. It has the capability to simulate fixed nozzle gimbal angles of 0, 4, and 8 degrees. The model was tested at full scale motor Reynolds Numbers with extensive surface pressure instrumentation to enable detailed mapping of the surface pressure distributions over the nozzle interior surface, the exterior surface of the nozzle nose and the surface of the simulated propellant grain in the aft motor port. A mathematical analysis and associated numerical procedure were developed to integrate the measured surface pressure distributions to determine the lateral and axial forces on the moveable section of the nozzle, the effective model thrust and the effective aerodynamic thrust vector (as opposed to the geometric nozzle gimbal angle). The nozzle lateral and axial aerodynamic loads and moments about the pivot point are required for design purposes and require complex, three dimensional flow analyses. The alignment of the thrust vector with the nozzle geometric centerline is also a design requirement requiring three dimensional analyses which were supported by this experimental program. The model was tested with all three gimbal angles at three pressure levels to determine Reynolds number effects and reproducibility. This program was successful in demonstrating that a measured surface pressure distribution could be integrated to determine the lateral and axial loads, moments and thrust vector alignment for the scaled model of a large space booster nozzle. Numerical results were provided which are scaleable to the full scale rocket motor and can be used as benchmark data for 3-D CFD analyses.

Whitesides, R. Harold↗

Langley's two-dimensional research facilities: Capabilities and plans

The current capabilities and the forthcoming plans for Langley's two-dimensional research facilities are described. The characteristics of the Langley facilities are discussed in terms of Reynolds number, Mach number, and angle-of-attack capabilities. Comments are made with regard to the approaches which have been investigated to alleviate typical problem areas such as wall boundary effects. Because of the need for increased Reynolds number capability at high subsonic speeds, a considerable portion of the paper deals with a description of the 20 by 60 cm two-dimensional test section of the Langley 0.3 meter transonic cryogenic tunnel which is currently in the calibration and shakedown phase.

Ray, E. J.↗

Some effects of oscillation waveform and amplitude on unsteady turbulent shear flows

Some physical features of several unsteady separating turbulent boundary layers are presented for practical Reynolds numbers and reduced frequencies such as for helicopter and turbomachinery flows. The effects of unsteadiness amplitude and waveform are examined for flows along the floor of a converging and diverging wind tunnel test section. At the end of the converging portion, the mean skin friction coefficient normalized on the mean dynamic pressure is independent of the waveform and amplitude within low experimental uncertainties. In the detaching and detached portions of the flow, wall values of the fraction of time that the flow moves downstream of gamma sub pu, which is a separated flow state variable, shows that oscillation waveform and amplitude strongly influence the detached flow behavior. Distributions of gamma sub pu during a cycle indicate hysteresis within the detached flow and the effects of the higher harmonics of pressure gradient and velocity.

Agarwal, Naval K.↗

A new facility and technique for two-dimensional aerodynamic testing

The design and operational characteristics of a new test leg for the High Reynolds Number Facility at Ames Research Center are presented, and the unique features of a test section for obtaining two-dimensional airfoil data are reviewed. The new facility operates at unit Reynolds numbers ranging from 1,000,000/ft to 30,000,000/ft. Boundary-layer suction panels are used in the test section (16 in. wide by 24 in. high) to minimize side-wall interference effects. Flexible, easily adjustable upper and lower walls allow test-channel area-ruling so as to nullify Mach-number changes induced by mass removal, to correct for longitudinal boundary-layer growth, and to provide contouring compatible with the streamlines of the model in free air.

Mcdevitt, J. B.↗

Effect of rod gap spacing on a suction panel for laminar flow and noise control in supersonic wind tunnels

Results are presented of a coordinated experimental and theoretical study of a sound shield concept which aims to provide a means of noise reduction in the test section of supersonic wind tunnels at high Reynolds numbers. The model used consists of a planar array of circular rods aligned with the flow, with adjustable gaps between them for boundary layer removal by suction, i.e., laminar flow control. One of the basic requirements of the present sound shield concept is to achieve sonic cross flow through the gaps in order to prevent lee-side flow disturbances from penetrating back into the shielded region. Tests were conducted at Mach 6 over a local unit Reynolds number range from about 1.2 x 10 to the 6th power to 13.5 x 10 to the 6th power per foot. Measurements of heat transfer, static pressure, and sound levels were made to establish the transition characteristics of the boundary layer on the rod array and the sound shielding effectiveness.

Harvey, W. D.↗

Effects of upper surface modification on the aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA 63 sub 2-215 airfoil section

An upper surface modification designed to increase the maximum lift coefficient of a 63 sub 2 - 215 airfoil section was tested at Mach numbers of 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 Reynolds numbers of 1.3 x 1 million, 2 x 10 sub 6 and 2.5 x 1 million. Comparisons of the aerodynamic coefficients before and after the modification were made. The upper surface modification increased the maximum lift coefficient of the airfoil significantly at all conditions.

Hicks, R. M.↗

Heat Transfer Experiments of Ribbed, Serpentine Cooling Passages with Supercritical CO2

The results of heat transfer experiments with supercritical CO2 (sCO2) to capture the performance of ribbed, serpentine cooling passages for Reynolds numbers in the range of 100,000 - 400,000 are presented. The oxy-combustion turbine operating in an Allam-Fetvedt cycle has a turbine inlet temperature exceeding 1100°C, necessitating internally cooled turbine blades due to material creep strength limits. Reynolds numbers for sCO2, with its combination of high fluid density and low viscosity, can be up to an order of magnitude higher than comparable internal cooling conditions for an air-breathing engine where the majority of experimental data exists. To improve the prediction of cooling performance through turbulated passages, a test rig was designed and constructed with interchangeable insert capability for operation in sCO2 with heat transfer from a heater outlet flow stream to a lower temperature recuperator outlet flow stream. The inserts included serpentine passage geometry with five passes, one of the inserts including chevron ribs and the other a plain wall. The multi-pass serpentine geometry allowed for the evaluation of the effects 180 deg. tip turns have on the return passage flow characteristics, as they can depart significantly from fully-developed flow characteristics. The test procedure included the use of a modified Wilson plot method, with hot flow stream conditions kept effectively constant so that monitored changes in the overall thermal resistance could be attributed to manipulations in cooling flow stream conditions. Conditions during testing consisted of test section pressures of approximately 180 bar, cooling flow stream temperature of 175°C and hot flow stream temperature of 410°C. Test points at discrete cool flow Reynolds numbers up to 400,000 demonstrated an expected trend of decreased fluid thermal resistance with increasing Reynolds number, while at comparable Reynolds number there was an exhibited lower thermal resistance and higher passage pressure drop for the ribbed insert compared to the plain-walled insert. Processing of test data included establishment of Nusselt number enhancement ratios, so that for different internal cooling passage dimensions in the actual turbine blade at comparable Reynolds number the ratio could be applied to predict cooling performance.

Marshall, Michael↗

Investigation of Spiral and Sweeping Holes

Surface infrared thermography, hotwire anemometry, and thermocouple surveys were performed on two new film cooling hole geometries: spiral/rifled holes and fluidic sweeping holes. The spiral holes attempt to induce large-scale vorticity to the film cooling jet as it exits the hole to prevent the formation of the kidney shaped vortices commonly associated with film cooling jets. The fluidic sweeping hole uses a passive in-hole geometry to induce jet sweeping at frequencies that scale with blowing ratios. The spiral hole performance is compared to that of round holes with and without compound angles. The fluidic hole is of the diffusion class of holes and is therefore compared to a 777 hole and Square holes. A patent-pending spiral hole design showed the highest potential of the non-diffusion type hole configurations. Velocity contours and flow temperature were acquired at discreet cross-sections of the downstream flow field. The passive fluidic sweeping hole shows the most uniform cooling distribution but suffers from low span-averaged effectiveness levels due to enhanced mixing. The data was taken at a Reynolds number of 11,000 based on hole diameter and freestream velocity. Infrared thermography was taken for blowing rations of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 at a density ration of 1.05. The flow inside the fluidic sweeping hole was studied using 3D unsteady RANS.

infrared thermography↗