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At least 937 records · Page 52

Research and training activities of the Joint Institute for Aeronautics and Acoustics

During the period October 1992 to September 1993 progress was made on each of the following tasks: (1) experimental studies of free shear flows; (2) analysis of conical flow; (3) experimental and theoretical studies of vortex flows; and (4) aircraft attitude control using active flow control devices. The details of this work was discussed with the technical and management staff at Ames Research Center.

Roberts, L.↗

Numerical analysis of unsteady flow in a converging-diverging nozzle

This study investigates the physics of jet noise by the numerical solution of the three dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes equations for a low-supersonic jet (Mach numbers on the order of 1.4) from a converging-diverging (C-D) nozzle and mixing with a subsonic surrounding flow. The numerical method used for the solution of these equations is the second order accurate MacCormack explicit predictor-corrector scheme. The numerical results are compared to the experimental results of Yamamoto for the same C-D nozzle geometry and similar operating conditions. The goal of the study is to use numerical simulation techniques to resolve accurately physical processes which contribute to jet noise, and to assess whether performing these simulations in a three dimensional geometry is worth the additional cost in computing resources as compared to a comparable simulation on a two dimensional planar or axisymmetric geometry. Scientific visualization is used to observe the spreading characteristics of the jet, as well as to examine the structure of the shocks within the jet core. The time average velocity and turbulence intensity level at various locations are computed and compared with experimental results. A two point space-time cross correlation is used to compute the mean convection speed through the shear layer, and these predictions are compared with results from theory.

James N Scott↗

Analysis of Unsteady Flow Phenomena: Shock - Vortex and Shock - Boundary Layer Interactions

The interaction of shock waves with vortices has received much attention in the past, mainly because shock-vortex interaction closely models the interaction of a shock wave with the coherent structures of a turbulent flow-field, and is a key feature in the broad-band shock noise for supersonic jets in off-project conditions. Chu and Kovasznay have shown that a weak disturbance in a viscous heat conducting fluid can be decomposed as the sum of three basic modes, namely acoustic, vortical and entropy mode; the interaction of any of these modes with a shock wave gives rise to all three disturbance modes downstream of the shock. The vortical mode is important since it constitutes the basis of the coherent structures that have been observed to dominate turbulence for low- to moderate-flow speed. Hollingsworth et al. have experimentally investigated the interaction of a cylindrical shock-induced starting vortex with a plane normal shock, and have shown that the interaction generates a cylindrical acoustic pulse that exhibits a quadrupolar structure consisting of four alternate compression and expansion regions centered around the transmitted vortex. The investigations of Hollingsworth and Richards have been extended by Dosanjh and Weeks that have analyzed the interaction of a columnar spiral vortex with a normal shock wave, thus obtaining quantitative measurements and confirming the generation of a progressive cylindrical wavefront of alternate compression-expansion nature. Naumann and Hermanns' have experimentally addressed the non-linear aspects of shock-vortex interaction, and have shown that the interaction causes both a diffraction and a reflection of the shock with a pattern consisting of either a regular-or a Mach-reflection depending on the shock and the vortex strengths. An attempt to theoretically explain the production of sound from the shock-vortex interaction was carried out by Ribner. Pao and Salas have numerically studied two-dimensional shock-vortex interactions.

Grasso, Francesco↗

Computational Analysis of Cryogenic Flow Through a Control Valve

The initial efforts to develop the capability to model valves used in rocket engine component testing at Stennis Space Center are documented. An axisymmetric model of a control valve with LN2 as the working fluid was developed. The goal was to predict the effect of change in the plug/sear region of the valve prior to testing. The valve flow coefficient was predicted for a range of plug positions. Verification of the calculations was carried out to quantify the uncertainty in the numerical answer. The modeled results compared well qualitatively to experimental trends. Additionally, insights into the flow processes in the valve were obtained. Benefits from the verification process included the ability to use coarser grids and insight into ways to reduce computational time by using double precision accuracy and non-integer grid ratios. Future valve modeling activities will include shape optimization of the valve/seat region and dynamic grid modeling.

Danes, Russell↗

Computational Analysis of the Flow and Acoustic Effects of Jet-Pylon Interaction

Computational simulation and prediction tools were used to understand the jet-pylon interaction effect in a set of bypass-ratio five core/fan nozzles. Results suggest that the pylon acts as a large scale mixing vane that perturbs the jet flow and jump starts the jet mixing process. The enhanced mixing and associated secondary flows from the pylon result in a net increase of noise in the first 10 diameters of the jet s development, but there is a sustained reduction in noise from that point downstream. This is likely the reason the pylon nozzle is quieter overall than the baseline round nozzle in this case. The present work suggests that focused pylon design could lead to advanced pylon shapes and nozzle configurations that take advantage of propulsion-airframe integration to provide additional noise reduction capabilities.

Hunter, Craig A.↗

Experimental and Computational Analysis of Unidirectional Flow Through Stirling Engine Heater Head

A high efficiency Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG) is being developed for possible use in long-duration space science missions. NASA s advanced technology goals for next generation Stirling convertors include increasing the Carnot efficiency and percent of Carnot efficiency. To help achieve these goals, a multi-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code is being developed to numerically model unsteady fluid flow and heat transfer phenomena of the oscillating working gas inside Stirling convertors. In the absence of transient pressure drop data for the zero mean oscillating multi-dimensional flows present in the Technology Demonstration Convertors on test at NASA Glenn Research Center, unidirectional flow pressure drop test data is used to compare against 2D and 3D computational solutions. This study focuses on tracking pressure drop and mass flow rate data for unidirectional flow though a Stirling heater head using a commercial CFD code (CFD-ACE). The commercial CFD code uses a porous-media model which is dependent on permeability and the inertial coefficient present in the linear and nonlinear terms of the Darcy-Forchheimer equation. Permeability and inertial coefficient were calculated from unidirectional flow test data. CFD simulations of the unidirectional flow test were validated using the porous-media model input parameters which increased simulation accuracy by 14 percent on average.

Wilson, Scott D.↗

The Prediction and Analysis of Jet Flows and Scattered Turbulent Mixing Noise About Flight Vehicle Airframes

Jet flows interacting with nearby surfaces exhibit a complex behavior in which acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics are altered. The physical understanding and prediction of these characteristics are essential to designing future low noise aircraft. A new approach is created for predicting scattered jet mixing noise that utilizes an acoustic analogy and steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solutions. A tailored Green's function accounts for the propagation of mixing noise about the air-frame and is calculated numerically using a newly developed ray tracing method. The steady aerodynamic statistics, associated unsteady sound source, and acoustic intensity are examined as jet conditions are varied about a large at plate. A non-dimensional number is proposed to estimate the effect of the aerodynamic noise source relative to jet operating condition and airframe position. The steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes solutions, acoustic analogy, tailored Green's function, non- dimensional number, and predicted noise are validated with a wide variety of measurements. The combination of the developed theory, ray tracing method, and careful implementation in a stand-alone computer program result in an approach that is more first principles oriented than alternatives, computationally efficient, and captures the relevant physics of fluid-structure interaction.

Miller, Steven A.↗