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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

Experimental studies of turbulent aircraft wake

Review of wind tunnel test data obtained for tip vortex studies on a square-tipped rectangular wing. The results include wing surface pressure distributions, three-dimensional velocity components in the wake, and principal vortex characteristics such as peak tangential velocity and core size distributions. The wind tunnel measurements are compared with flight test data. These comparisons show that the magnitudes of circumferential velocities, normalized by flight speed and lift coefficient, as well as the vortex core radius, normalized by wing span, are in close agreement. The data obtained make possible the calculation of turbulence stress distributions and the formulation of models for the prediction of downstream flow fields.

Chigier, N. A.↗

Hot-wire anemometry for in-flight measurement of aircraft wake vortices

An airborne hot-wire anemometry system capable of providing data concerning the vortex structure in the wake of a preceding aircraft has been used in several flight studies. The design features of this technique and the operational experience with it are described. This development program has resulted in a flight-test technique that can make accurate velocity measurements in flow regimes where large velocity gradients occur.

Jacobsen, R. A.↗

A wind tunnel investigation of the wake near the trailing edge of a deflected externally blown flap

The model tested was a general research model of a swept-wing, jet-powered STOL transport with externally blown flaps. The model was tested with four engine simulators mounted on pylons under the wing. Tests were conducted in the V/STOL tunnel over an angle of attack range of 0 deg to 16 deg and a thrust coefficient range from 0 to approximately 4 at a Reynolds number of 0.461 x 1 million based on the wing reference chord. The results of this investigation are presented primarily as plots of the individual velocity vectors obtained from the wake survey. These data are used to extend an earlier analysis to isolate the effects of the engine thrust on the behavior of the flow at the flap trailing edge. Results of a comparison with a jet-flap theory are also shown.

Johnson, W. G., Jr.↗

Measurement of tilt rotor VTOL rotor wake-airframe ground aerodynamic interference for application to real time flight simulation

The hover and low speed rotor wake-airframe-ground aerodynamic characteristics of the XV-15 tilt rotor research aircraft were determined in wind tunnel tests of a scale model. Results of the wind tunnel tests were applied to real flight time simulation. The principal findings of the wind tunnel tests are summarized. The effect of aerodynamic interference on the handling qualities of the aircraft is analyzed. It was determined that aerodynamic interference effects are significant in hover and at low speeds, with the influence being more pronounced in ground effect than out of it. At airspeeds above 60 knots, aerodynamic interference does not have a significant effect on handling characteristics.

Gaffey, T. M.↗

Conduct overall test operations and evaluate two Doppler systems to detect, track and measure velocities in aircraft wake vortices

A program plan for system evaluation of the two-dimensional Scanning Laser Doppler System (SLDS) is presented. In order to meet system evaluation and optimization objectives the following tests were conducted: (1) noise tests; (2) wind tests; (3) blower flowfield tests; (4) single unit (1-D) flyby tests; and (5) dual unit (2-D) flyby tests. Test results are reported. The final phase of the program included logistics preparation, equipment interface checkouts, and data processing. It is concluded that the SLDS is capable of accurately tracking aircraft wake vortices from small or large aircraft, and in any type of weather.

Wilson, D. J.↗

Flight test investigation of the vortex wake characteristics behind a Boeing 727 during two-segment and normal ILS approaches (A joint NASA/FAA report)

Flight tests were performed to evaluate the vortex wake characteristics of a Boeing 727 aircraft during conventional and two-segment instrument landing approaches. Smoke generators were used for vortex marking. The vortex was intentionally intercepted by a Lear Jet and a Piper Comanche aircraft. The vortex location during landing approach was measured using a system of phototheodolites. The tests showed that at a given separation distance there are no readily apparent differences in the upsets resulting from deliberate vortex encounters during the two types of approaches. The effect of the aircraft configuration on the extent and severity of the vortices is discussed.

Barber, M. R.↗

Laser Doppler velocimeter system simulation for sensing aircraft wake vortices

A hydrodynamic model of aircraft vortex wakes in an irregular wind shear field near the ground is developed and used as a basis for modeling the characteristics of a laser Doppler detection and vortex location system. The trailing vortex sheet and the wind shear are represented by discrete free vortices distributed over a two-dimensional grid. The time dependent hydrodynamic equations are solved by direct numerical integration in the Boussinesq approximation. The ground boundary is simulated by images, and fast Fourier Transform techniques are used to evaluate the vorticity stream function. The atmospheric turbulence was simulated by constructing specific realizations at time equal to zero, assuming that Kolmogoroff's law applies, and that the dissipation rate is constant throughout the flow field. The response of a simulated laser Doppler velocimeter is analyzed by simulating the signal return from the flow field as sensed by a simulation of the optical/electronic system.

Thomson, J. A. L.↗

Analysis of wake vortex flight test data behind a T-33 aircraft

Measurements of the vortex system behind a T-33 aircraft were obtained by a Learjet equipped with a boom carrying a three-wire, hot-wire anemometry probe and other instrumentation. Analysis of the measurements using a computerized geometric method indicated the vortices had a core radius of approximately 0.11 meter with a maximum velocity of 25 meters per second. The hot-wire anemometer was found to be a practical and sensitive instrument for determining in-flight vortex velocities. No longitudinal instabilities, buoyant effects or vortex breakdowns were evident in the data which included vortex wake cross sections from 0.24 to 5.22 kilometers behind the T-33.

Kuhn, G. D.↗

Recent wake turbulence flight test programs

In early flight tests the size and intensity of the wake vortexes generated by aircraft ranging in size from the Learjet to the C-5A and the B-747 were studied to determine the effects of aircraft configuration, weight, and speed. Early problems were related to vortex marking, the measurement of separation distance, and test techniques. Recent tests conducted with B-747 showed that vortexes were alleviated by reducing the deflection of the outboard flaps. It was found that a more rapid dissipation of the vortex system can be obtained through alterations in the span lift distribution.

Tymczyszyn, J. J.↗

A comparison of the Gurevich et al. and the Liu-Jew wake models for the ion flux around a satellite

Observations of ion currents obtained by a retarding potential analyzer on board the Explorer 31 satellite were used to compare the Liu-Jew (Liu, 1969) and Gurevich et al. (1970) wake models with experiment. The quantitative degree of agreement is shown and discussed. The Gurevich et al. 'neutral approximation' was tested via the observations and was found to be fairly good for regions where the hydrogen ions constitute more than 20 per cent of the plasma and the Mach number is low. For the case of high Mach number, the Liu-Jew computations are in better agreement with the observations over the angle of attack range which could be studied, namely, 100-130 degrees.

Samir, U.↗

Structure of turbulent jets and wakes

The structure of two-dimensional turbulent jets and wakes is studied using two eddy viscosity models. The turbulent energy equation is used together with the mean momentum equations, and the system is closed by introducing eddy coefficients. The fine structure turbulence is obtained by applying proper boundary conditions at the mean turbulent interface position. The results, after a second averaging process, are compared with available experimental data.

Wang, F. C.↗

Laboratory observations of electron temperature in the wake of a sphere in a streaming plasma

A parametric study was performed of electron-temperature variation in the wake of a conducting sphere in a streaming plasma. The flow conditions were varied as follows: the ambient electron temperatures in the range from 850 to 2450 K; the ambient electron densities in the range from 0.0005 to 0.00007 per cu cm; and body potentials relative to plasma potential in the range from +1.7 to -2.8 V for an ion-beam energy of approximately 4 eV. Electron-temperature enhancements were observed which ranged up to 200 per cent above ambient in the nearest proximity of the body surface. The magnitude of the enhancement depends upon the ambient density, temperature, and body potential.

Oran, W. A.↗

An investigation of the increase in vortex induced rolling moment associated with landing gear wake

Flight tests were conducted to verify the results found in ground base facilities of the effect of span lift load variation as well as the vortex attentuation of the high energy jet engine exhaust through proper thrust programming. During these flight tests a large increase in vortex strength was experienced as a result of extending the landing gear. Tests in the Langley Vortex Research Facility indicate that the wake produced by the landing gear may possibly form an aerodynamic endplate or reflection plane at the inboard edge of each inboard flap which increases the effective aspect ratio of the flap and thereby increases the strength of the flap outer edge vortex.

Patterson, J. C., Jr.↗

Hazard criteria for wake vortex encounters

A piloted, motion-base simulation was conducted to evaluate the ability of simulators to produce realistic vortex encounters and to develop criteria to define hazardous encounters. Evaluation of the simulation by pilots experienced in vortex encounters confirmed the capability of the simulator to realistically reproduce wake vortex encounters. A boundary for encounter hazard based on subjective pilot opinion was identified in terms of maximum bank angle. For encounter altitudes from 200 to 500 ft (61.0 to 152.4 m), tentative hazard criteria established for visual flight conditions indicated that the acceptable upset magnitude increased nearly linearly with increasing altitude. The data suggest that the allowable upsets under instrument conditions no greater than 50 percent of that allowable under visual conditions.

Sammonds, R. I.↗

A wall-wake velocity profile for turbulent compressible boundary layers with heat transfer

A modified form of the wall-wake profile which is applicable to flows with heat transfer is presented. The modified profile takes into account the effect of a turbulent Prandtl number; it was found to provide a good representation of the experimental data from several sources. The C sub f values which are determined by a least squares fit of the profile to the data agree well with values which were measured by the floating element technique.

Sun, C. C.↗

Wind-Tunnel Investigation of the Effect of Porous Spoilers on the Wake of a Subsonic Transport Model

Tests were conducted in the Ames Research Center 40- by 80-Foot Wind Tunnel to determine how porosity of wing spoilers on a B-747 airplane would affect the rolling moments imposed on an aircraft following in the wake. It was found that spoilers with 40 percent porosity and hole diameter to thickness ratio of 1.1 were just as effective in reducing the rolling moment imposed on the follower as solid spoilers, for the case of two spoilers per wing panel (6.4 percent semispan each) with a following model whose span was 20 percent of the span of the generator. When a larger following model was tested, whose span was 50 percent of that of the generator, the effectiveness of the two spoilers per wing was substantially reduced.

Corsiglia, V. R.↗