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At least 793 records · Page 44

Application of Forebody Strakes for Directional Stability and Control of Transport Aircraft

A brief overview of a cooperative NASA/Boeing research effort, Strake Technology Research Application to Transport Aircraft (STRATA), intended to explore the potential of applying forebody strake technology to transport aircraft configurations for directional stability and control at low angles of attack, is presented. As an initial step in the STRATA program, an exploratory wind-tunnel investigation of the effect of fixed forebody strakes on the directional stability and control characteristics of a generic transport configuration was conducted in the NASA Langley 12-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel. Results of parametric variations in strake chord and span, as well as the effect of strake incidence, are presented. The use of strakes for yaw control is also discussed. Results emphasize the importance of forebody/fuselage crossflow in influencing strake effectiveness. Strake effectiveness is also seen to be directly related to its span, but less sensitive to chord; a very short-chord strake with sufficient span can have a significant effect.

Shah, Gautam H.↗

Experimental study of the effectiveness of cylindrical plume simulators for predicting jet-on boattail drag at Mach numbers up to 1.30

An investigation has been conducted in a 16-foot transonic tunnel to determine the effectiveness of utilizing solid circular cylinders to simulate the jet exhaust plume for a series of eight nacelle-mounted isolated circular-arc afterbodies. This investigation was conducted at Mach numbers from 0.40 to 1.30 at an angle of attack of 0. Plume simulators with simulator diameter to nozzle-exit diameter ratios of 0.82, 0.88, 0.98, and 1.00 were investigated. Results of this investigation indicate that use of one of the larger diameter simulators at all Mach numbers would generally result in pressure-coefficient distributions and drag coefficients useful for preliminary design work.

Reubush, D. E.↗

An Exploratory Investigation of the Effect of Plastic Coating on the Profile Drag of a Practical-Metal-Construction Sailplane Airfoil

An exploratory investigation was performed in the Langley low-turbulence pressure tunnel to determine the effect of a plastic coating on the profile drage of a practical-metal-construction sailplaine airfoil. The mode was tested with three surface configurations: (1) filled, painted, and sanded smooth; (2) rough bare metal; and (3) plastic-coated. The investigation was conducted at Reynolds numbers based on airfoil chord of 1,100,000, 2,200,000, and 3,300,000 at a constant Mach number of 0.10. The results indicate that, at all three Reynolds numbers, the order of the drag values of the three surface configurations, starting with the highest drag, was: filled, painted, and sanded smooth; rough bare metal; and plastic-coated.

Somers, D. M.↗

Effects of tail span and empennage arrangement on drag of a typical single-engine fighter aft end

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 16 foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the effects of tail span and empennage arrangement on drag of a single engine nozzle/afterbody model. Tests were conducted at Mach numbers from 0.50 to 1.20, nozzle pressures frm 1.0 (jet off) to 8.0, and angles of attack from -3 to 9 deg, depending upon Mach numbers. Three empennage arrangements (aft, staggered, and forward) were investigated with several different tail spans. The results of the investigation indicate that tail span and position have a significant effect on the drag at transonic speeds. Unfavorable tail interference was largely due to the outer portion of the tail surfaces. The inner portion near the nozzle and afterbody did little to increase drag other than surface skin friction. Tail positions forward of the nozzle generally had lower tail interference.

Burley, J. R., II↗

Effect of a trade between boattail angle and wedge size on the performance of a nonaxisymmetric wedge nozzle

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the effect of a boattail angle and wedge-size trade on the performance of nonaxisymmetric wedge nozzles installed on a generic twin-engine fighter aircraft model. Test data were obtained at static conditions and at Mach numbers from 0.60 to 1.25. Angle of attack was held constant at 0 deg. High-pressure air was used to simulate jet exhaust, and the nozzle pressure ratio was varied from 1.0 (jet off) to slightly over 15.0. For the configurations studied, the results indicate that wedge size can be reduced without affecting aeropropulsive performance.

Carson, George T., Jr.↗

The Effect of Rivet Heads on the Characteristics of a 6 by 36 Foot Clark Y Metal Airfoil

An investigation was conducted in the N.A.C.A. full-scale wind tunnel to determine the effects of exposed rivet heads on the aerodynamic characteristics of a metal-covered 6 by 36 foot Clasky airfoil. Lead punching simulating 1/8inch rivet heads were attached in full-span rows at a pitch of 1 inch at various chord positions. Tests were made at velocities varying from 40 to 120 miles per hour to investigate the scale effect. Rivets at the 5 percent chord position the upper surface of the airfoil produced the greatest increase in drag for a single row. Nine rows of rivets on both surfaces, simulating rivet spacing of multispan construction, increased the drag coefficients by a constant amount at velocities between 100 and 120 miles per hour. Accordingly, if rivets spaced the same as those on the test airfoil were used on a Clark Y wing of 300 square feet area and operated at 200 miles per hour, the drag would be increased over that for the smooth wing by 55 pounds and the power required would be increased by 29 horsepower.

Dearborn, Clinton H↗

Elastic deformation effects on aerodynamic characteristics for a high-aspect-ratio supercritical-wing model

The results of an investigation of the deformations of a high-aspect-ratio, force/pressure, supercritical-wing model during wind tunnel tests and the effects these deformations have on the wing aerodynamics are presented. A finite element model of the wing was developed, and then, for conditions corresponding to wind tunnel test points, experimental aerodynamic loads and theoretical aerodynamic loads were applied to the finite element model. Comparisons were made between the results of these load conditions for changes in structural deflections and for changes in aerodynamic characteristics. The results show that the deformations are quite small and that the pressure data are not significantly affected by model deformation.

Watson, J. J.↗

Effects of Nose Bluntness on Aerodynamic Characteristics of Cruciform-Finned Missile Configuration at Mach 1.50 to 2.86

An investigation has been conducted in the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel to determine the effects of spherical nose bluntness on the aerodynamic characteristics of a typical cruciform-finned short-range missile configuration for roll angles of 0 deg and 45 deg and Mach numbers from 1.50 to 2.86. Also investigated was the effectiveness of a forward protruding nose spike in reducing the axial-force coefficient of a blunt-nose configuration. The results indicated that the effects of nose bluntness and nose spike on the longitudinal stability were small. For roll angles of both 0 deg and 45 deg, the greatest effects of nose bluntness on the aerodynamic-center location near zero angle of attack occurred at a Mach number of 2.86, where for each roll position, a rearward shift of approximately 3.5 percent of the body length occurred as bluntness was increased. Although large magnitudes of nose bluntness were accompanied by high axial-force coefficients, significant reductions in the axial-force coefficient of a blunt-nose configuration were achieved with the use of the nose spike. There were no noteworthy effects of nose bluntness on either the directional stability or side-force parameters. However, for high angles of attack at a Mach number of 1.50 increased nose bluntness generally resulted in decreased effective dihedral.

Jernell, L. S.↗

Effects of empennage surface location on aerodynamic characteristics of a twin-engine afterbody model with nonaxisymmetric nozzles

An investigation has been conducted in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the effects of empennage surface location and vertical tail cant angle on the aft-end aerodynamic characteristics of a twin-engine fighter-type configuration. The configuration featured two-dimensional convergent-divergent nozzles and twin-vertical tails. The investigation was conducted with different empennage locations that included two horizontal and three vertical tail positions. Vertical tail cant angle was varied from -10 deg to 20 deg for one selected configuration. Tests were conducted at Mach number 0.60 to 1.20 and at angles of attack -3 to 9 deg. Nozzle pressure ratio was varied from jet off to approximately 9, depending upon Mach number. Tail interference effects were present throughout the range of Mach numbers tested and found to be either favorable or adverse, depending upon test condition and model configuration. At a Mach number of 0.90, adverse interference effects accounted for a significant percentage of total aft-end drag. Interference effects on the nozzle were generally favorable but became adverse as the horizontal tails were moved from a mid to an aft position. The configuration with nonaxisymmetric nozzles had lower total aft-end drag with tails-off than a similar configuration with axisymmetric nozzles at Mach numbers of 0.60 and 0.90.

Capone, Francis J.↗

Effect of tail size reductions on longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a three surface F-15 model with nonaxisymmetric nozzles

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel to determine the effects of horizontal and vertical tail size reductions on the longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a modified F-15 model with canards and 2-D convergent-divergent nozzles. Quantifying the drag decrease at low angles of attack produced by tail size reductions was the primary focus. The model was tested at Mach numbers of 0.40, 0.90, and 1.20 over an angle of attack of -2 degree to 10 degree. The nozzle exhaust flow was simulated using high pressure air at nozzle pressure ratios varying from 1.0 (jet off) to 7.5. Data were obtained on the baseline configuration with and without tails as well as with reduced horizontal and/or vertical tail sizes that were 75, 50, and 25 percent of the baseline tail areas.

Frassinelli, Mark C.↗

Two dimensional aerodynamic interference effects on oscillating airfoils with flaps in ventilated subsonic wind tunnels

The numerical computation of unsteady airloads acting upon thin airfoils with multiple leading and trailing-edge controls in two-dimensional ventilated subsonic wind tunnels is studied. The foundation of the computational method is strengthened with a new and more powerful mathematical existence and convergence theory for solving Cauchy singular integral equations of the first kind, and the method of convergence acceleration by extrapolation to the limit is introduced to analyze airfoils with flaps. New results are presented for steady and unsteady flow, including the effect of acoustic resonance between ventilated wind-tunnel walls and airfoils with oscillating flaps. The computer program TWODI is available for general use and a complete set of instructions is provided.

Fromme, J.↗

Effect of aileron deflections on the aerodynamic characteristics of a semispan model of a subsonic energy-efficient transport

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 8 Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel to determine the effect of aileron deflections on the aerodynamic characteristics of a subsonic energy efficient transport (EET) model. The semispan model had an aspect ratio 10 supercritical wing and was configured with a conventionally located set of ailerons (i.e., a high speed aileron located inboard and a low speed aileron located outboard). Data for the model were taken over a Mach number range from 0.30 to 0.90 and an angle of attack range from approximately -2 deg to 10 deg. The Reynolds number was 2.5 million per foot for Mach number = 0.30 and 4 million per foot for the other Mach numbers. Model force and moment data, aileron effectiveness parameters, aileron hinge moment data, otherwise pressure distributions, and spanwise load data are presented.

Jacobs, P. F.↗

The Effect of Surface Irregularities on Wing Drag. I. Rivets and Spot Welds: Rivets and Spot Welds - 1

Tests have been conducted in the NACA 8-foot high-speed wind tunnel to determine the effect of exposed rivet heads and spot welds on wing drag. Most of the tests were made with an airfoil of 5-foot chord. The air speed was varied from 80 to 500 miles per hour and the lift coefficient from 0 to 0.30. The increases in the drag of the 5-foot airfoil varied from 6%, due to countersunk rivets, to 27%, due to 3/32-inch brazier-head rivets, with the rivets in a representative arrangement. The drag increases caused by protruding rivet heads were roughly proportional to the height of the heads. With the front row of rivets well forward, changes in spanwise pitch had negligible effects on drag unless the pitch was more than 2.5% of the chord. Data are presented for evaluating the drag reduction attained by removing rivets from the forward part of the wing surface; for example, it is shown that over 70% of the rivet drag is caused by the rivets on the forward 30% of the airfoil in a typical case.

Hood, Manley J.↗

Effects of Reynolds number and model support on the supersonic aerodynamic chacteristics of a 140 deg-included-angle cone

An investigation has been made in the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel to determine the effects of Reynolds number and sting-support interference on the static aerodynamic characteristics of a 140 deg-included-angle cone. Base pressures and forces and moments of the model were measured at Mach numbers of 1.50, 2.00, 2.94, and 4.00 for ratios of sting diameter to model diameter that varied from 0.125 to 0.500 through an angle-of-attack range from about minus 4 deg to 13 deg. The Reynolds number, based on model diameter 4.80 in. was varied from 161,000 to 415,000.

Trescot, C. D., Jr.↗

Effect of stabilizer location upon pitching and yawing moments in spins as shown by tests with the spinning balance

Tests were made with the spinning balance in a 5-foot wind tunnel to study the effect of stabilizer location upon the pitching and yawing moments given by the tail surfaces in spinning attitudes. The tests revealed that the horizontal surfaces, when in a normal location, seriously reduced the effectiveness of the fin and rudder, particularly at angles of attack of 50 degrees or more. The tests also revealed that a more forward or more rearward location gave no consistent or decided improvement; that a lower location greatly increased the shielding so that the yawing moment from the combination was in general less than that given by the bare fuselage; and that a higher location decreased the shielding and gave a favorable interference effect, particularly at the high angles of attack. Additional results regarding the stabilizer and the elevator are given.

Bamber, M J↗