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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.

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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Flight investigation of a vertical-velocity command system for VTOL aircraft

A flight investigation was undertaken to assess the potential benefits afforded by a vertical-velocity command system (VVCS) for VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. This augmentation system was conceived primarily as a means of lowering pilot workload during decelerating approaches to a hover and/or landing under category III instrument meteorological conditions. The scope of the investigation included a determination of acceptable system parameters, a visual flight evaluation, and an instrument flight evaluation which employed a 10 deg, decelerating, simulated instrument approach task. The results indicated that the VVCS, which decouples the pitch and vertical degrees of freedom, provides more accurate glide-path tracking and a lower pilot workload than does the unaugmented system.

Kelly, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1961

Aerodynamic Characteristics of Propeller-Driven VTOL Aircraft

This paper discusses the two major configurations that are usually considered for achieving VTOL while keeping the fuselage essentially horizontal - that is, the tilt-wing and the deflected-slipstream configurations. Because of the high turning losses incurred by deflected-slipstream configurations in hovering and because of the wing-stalling problem of the pure tilt-wing configurations during the transition, it appears that a combination of the two principles should be used. This tilt-wing and flap configuration should make use of a programmed extensible-chord slotted flap together with a leading-edge high-lift device in order to avoid the performance and handling qualities problems associated with wing stalling during the transition while keeping the wing area as low as possible for efficiency in cruising flight.

Kirby, Robert H.↗
NASA NTRS1961

An Investigation of the Effect of Downwash from a VTOL Aircraft and a Helicopter in the Ground Environment

Dynamic-pressure measurement, in ground effect, have been obtained about a single-rotor helicopter and a dual-propeller VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. The results indicate that the slipstream dynamic pressure along the ground, some distance from the center of rotation, is not a function of disk loading but merely a function of the gross weight or thrust of the aircraft. Furthermore, for a given gross weight the thickness of this outward flowing sheet of air is less for a small-diameter propeller (higher disk loading propeller). The variation of the dynamic-pressure flow field for single and dual propellers or rotors is significantly different in the plane of symmetry between the two rotors than in a direction normal to this plane. The interaction of the two flows produces a region of upflow in this plane where the fuselage is located, and the decay of the maximum dynamic pressure with distance ahead of the fuselage is slower.

O'Bryan, Thomas C.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Experiment Design for Complex VTOL Aircraft with Distributed Propulsion and Tilt Wing

Selected experimental results from a wind tunnel study of a subscale VTOL concept with distributed propulsion and tilt lifting surfaces are presented. The vehicle complexity and automated test facility were ideal for use with a randomized designed experiment. Design of Experiments and Response Surface Methods were invoked to produce run efficient, statistically rigorous regression models with minimized prediction error. Static tests were conducted at the NASA Langley 12-Foot Low-Speed Tunnel to model all six aerodynamic coefficients over a large flight envelope. This work supports investigations at NASA Langley in developing advanced configurations, simulations, and advanced control systems.

Murphy, Patrick C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Design studies of lift fan engines suitable for use in civilian VTOL aircraft

Low pressure ratio fan engines are receiving increasing attention as a means to provide low speed lift for civilian VTOL transports. Two general types of fan lift engines that are being studied are integral fans and remote power fans. Preliminary engine design studies of both types of lift fan systems have been made. The paper summarizes a portion of the results of the engine design studies, including the crucial engine requirements, and some of the characteristics of the emerging engine designs of each type.

Roelke, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Propulsion-induced interference effects on jet-lift VTOL aircraft

Recent investigations of propulsion-induced aerodynamics are reviewed. Experimental and analytical studies of the fundamental properties of lifting jet wakes and wind-tunnel investigations of VTOL configuration variables are discussed. The jet-wake flow studies will provide the data base for evaluating theoretical performance prediction methods; while the configuration studies will provide guidance for optimizing airframe/propulsion system integration. The influence of results to date on high-performance VTOL designs emphasizing minimum jet-induced losses and improved thrust vectoring in forward flight (VIFF) capability is illustrated.

Winston, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Simulation and flight studies of an approach profile indicator for VTOL aircraft

Simulation and flight investigations were conducted by using a method of providing supplementary information to the pilot in conjunction with a closed-circuit-television display during a VTOL instrument final approach including deceleration and hover. The supplementary information included range, cross range, ground speed, altitude, and rate-of-climb error and was displayed on an instrument called an approach profile indicator. The display was arranged to provide both quasi-command and situation information. Pilot comments indicated that the approach-profile-indicator display concept in conjunction with the closed-circuit television resulted in a decreased pilot workload and an increase in pilot confidence. Also, the results indicated that the approach profile repeatability was significantly improved because of the ground-speed and altitude information provided on the approach profile indicator.

Moen, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Design studies of lift fan engines suitable for use in civilian VTOL aircraft.

Preliminary engine design studies have been made of two general types of low-pressure-ratio lift fan engines that are receiving increasing attention as a means to provide low-speed lift for large civilian VTOL transports. The two engine types are integral fans and remote powered fans. A portion of the results of these design studies is summarized, including the crucial engine requirements, and some of the characteristics of the emerging engine designs of each type.

Roelke, R. J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Robust Uniform Control Approach for VTOL Aircraft

We present a uniform control approach for transitioning vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The approach combines several well-understood linear techniques, including robust servomechanism linear quadratic regulation, control allocation, and gain scheduling, to provide a practical control framework that can be used to unify the control design process in all flight regimes. The choice of command variables provides a pilot/operator with a uniform set of intuitive control inputs through all phases of flight while also being easily integrated into autonomous trajectory tracking operations. The control method is applied to the NASA LA-8 aircraft, a tandem tiltwing distributed electric propulsion research vehicle designed at NASA Langley Research Center. The trim envelope of the aircraft is explored and the aircraft control authority analyzed throughout the transition corridor. The uniform control approach is then used to develop reference command tracking controllers for both the longitudinal and lateral-directional dynamics. An example trajectory is simulated to demonstrate how the controller effectively transitions the aircraft from hover to forward flight and vice versa while tracking a desired trajectory.

VTOL↗