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At least 1,045 records · Page 58

Computational fluid dynamics of airfoils and wings

It is pointed out that transonic flow is one of the fields where computational fluid dynamics turns out to be most effective. Codes for the design and analysis of supercritical airfoils and wings have become standard tools of the aircraft industry. The present investigation is concerned with mathematical models and theorems which account for some of the progress that has been made. The most successful aerodynamics codes are those for the analysis of flow at off-design conditions where weak shock waves appear. A major breakthrough was achieved by Murman and Cole (1971), who conceived of a retarded difference scheme which incorporates artificial viscosity to capture shocks in the supersonic zone. This concept has been used to develop codes for the analysis of transonic flow past a swept wing. Attention is given to the trailing edge and the boundary layer, entropy inequalities and wave drag, shockless airfoils, and the inverse swept wing code.

Garabedian, P.↗

Numerical simulation of airfoil ice accretion

A mathematical model of glaze and rime ice accretion on a two-dimensional airfoil is presented. The model employs standard methods for calculating the flow field and cloud droplet trajectories. This data is used as input to a thermodynamic analysis of the ice accretion process which includes liquid runback. The structure of the model allows for dynamic updating of the droplet collection efficiency and heat and mass transfer processes as the accreted ice shape changes. This results in the improved shape prediction over previously described methods. Simulations made with the model are compared to experimental results obtained for a NACA 0012 airfoil in the NASA/Lewis Icing Research Tunnel. The agreement with experiment is found to be generally satisfactory for some cases, but a need for improvements is indicated by others. Suggestions for improvements are made.

Macarthur, C. D.↗

Design and true Reynolds number 2-D testing of an advanced technology airfoil

A NASA-industry program has been conducted to determine the accuracy of available 2-D airfoil analysis procedures over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The program also served to develop and demonstrate effective wind tunnel model designs for use in a cryogenic environment. A Lockheed design, CRYO 12X, supercritical, shockfree airfoil was configured using a continuous curvature analytical definition of the ordinates. Test results show a very close ordinate tolerance was necessary to realize the intended pressure distribution. Correlation of test with Korn-Garabedian 2-D analysis pressure data were generally good. GRUMFOIL analysis with a sidewall correction gave a better correlation.

Reaser, J. S.↗

A spectral method for the solution of transonic potential flow about an arbitrary two-dimensional airfoil

The application of a spectral method to the computation of transonic potential flow about an arbitrary lifting airfoil is discussed. An iterative solution algorithm is described, which was found to be robust, fairly efficient, and fit well in a multigrid coontext. Details of the application to the transonic potential flow problem are given. Results from the spectral technique for both subcritical flow and supercritical flow with shocks are given and compared with results from state-of-the-art finite-difference airfoil codes.

Streett, C. L.↗

Comparison of supercritical airfoil flow calculations with wind-tunnel results

Navier-Stokes calculations have been performed for a supercritical airfoil at a transonic design condition and at a subsonic condition. Wind-tunnel pressure-rail measurements were employed as boundary data in the calculations to account for wall-interference effects. A fine mesh was used so that most details of the flows were resolved, particular attention having been given to the trailing-edge region. Detailed comparisons are made with the experimental data. Good agreement was obtained on the airfoil except at the trailing edge where separation occurred. Flow details in the trailing-edge region are examined and differences are shown to be attributable to the turbulence model employed.

King, L. S.↗

The influence of free-stream disturbances on low Reynolds number airfoil experiments

The results of an investigation of the influence of free stream disturbances on the lift and drag performance of the Lissaman 7769 airfoil are presented. The wind tunnel disturbance environment is described using hot-wire anemometer and sound pressure level measurements. The disturbance level is increased by the addition of a 'turbulence screen' upstream of the test section and/or the addition of a flow restrictor downstream of the test section. For the Lissaman airfoil it was found that the problems associated with obtaining accurate wind tunnel data at low chord Reynolds numbers (i.e., below 200,000) are compounded by the extreme sensitivity of the boundary layers to the free stream disturbance environment. The effect of free stream disturbances varies with magnitude, frequency content, and source of the disturbance.

Mueller, T. J.↗

Prediction of boundary-layer characteristics of an oscillating airfoil

The evolution of unsteady boundary layers on oscillating airfoils is investigated by solving the governing equations by the Characteristic Box scheme. The difficulties associated with computing the first profile on a given time line, and the velocity profiles with partial flow reversal are solved. A sample calculation is performed for an external velocity distribution typical of those found near the leading edge of thin airfoils. The viability of the calculation procedure is demonstrated. Previously announced in STAR as N81-28391

Cebeci, T.↗

Family of airfoil shapes for rotating blades

An airfoil which has particular application to the blade or blades of rotor aircraft such as helicopters and aircraft propellers is described. The airfoil thickness distribution and camber are shaped to maintain a near zero pitching moment coefficient over a wide range of lift coefficients and provide a zero pitching moment coefficient at section Mach numbers near 0.80 and to increase the drag divergence Mach number resulting in superior aircraft performance.

Noonan, K. W.↗

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.↗

Tabulation of data from tests of an NPL 9510 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

The tabulated data from tests of a six inch chord NPL 9510 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. The tests were performed over the following range of conditions: Mach numbers 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 chord of 1.34 x 10 to the 6th to 48.23 x 10 to the 6th, and angle of attack of 0 deg to 6 deg. The NPL 9510 airfoil was observed to have decreasing drag coefficient up to the highest test Reynolds number.

Jenkins, R. V.↗

Computation of viscous flows over airfoils, including separation, with a coupling approach

Viscous incompressible flows over single or multiple airfoils, with or without separation, were computed using an inviscid flow calculation, with modified boundary conditions, and by a method providing calculation and coupling for boundary layers and wakes, within conditions of strong viscous interaction. The inviscid flow is calculated with a method of singularities, the numerics of which were improved by using both source and vortex distributions over profiles, associated with regularity conditions for the fictitious flows inside of the airfoils. The viscous calculation estimates the difference between viscous flow and inviscid interacting flow, with a direct or inverse integral method, laminar or turbulent, with or without reverse flow. The numerical method for coupling determines iteratively the boundary conditions for the inviscid flow. For attached viscous layers regions, an underrelaxation is locally calculated to insure stability. For separated or separating regions, a special semi-inverse algorithm is used. Comparisons with experiments are presented.

Leballeur, J. C.↗

Two-dimensional aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil designed for two

An airfoil designed for helicopter rotor application is investigated. The airfoil is designed to increase maximum normal force coefficient while maintaining favorable drag divergence and pitching moment characteristics. Two modifications are also tested. Maximum normal force coefficient varies from 1.14 to 0.90 at Mach numbers from about 0.35 to 0.65. Both modifications decreased drag coefficient at zero normal force coefficient for Mach numbers near drag divergence, but were less beneficial at a normal force coefficient of -0.2.

Bingham, G. J.↗

Analysis of airfoil transitional separation bubbles

A previously developed local inviscid-viscous interaction technique for the analysis of airfoil transitional separation bubbles, ALESEP (Airfoil Leading Edge Separation) has been modified to utilize a more accurate windward finite difference procedure in the reversed flow region, and a natural transition/turbulence model has been incorporated for the prediction of transition within the separation bubble. Numerous calculations and experimental comparisons are presented to demonstrate the effects of the windward differencing scheme and the natural transition/turbulence model. Grid sensitivity and convergence capabilities of this inviscid-viscous interaction technique are briefly addressed. A major contribution of this report is that with the use of windward differencing, a second, counter-rotating eddy has been found to exist in the wall layer of the primary separation bubble.

Davis, R. L.↗

Unsteady transonic aerodynamic and aeroelastic calculations about airfoils and wings

The development and application of transonic small disturbance codes for computing two dimensional flows, using the code ATRAN2, and for computing three dimensional flows, using the code ATRAN3S, are described. Calculated and experimental results are compared for unsteady flows about airfoils and wings, including several of the cases from the AGARD Standard Aeroelastic Configurations. In two dimensions, the results include AGARD priority cases for the NACA 64A006, NACA 64A010, NACA 0012, and MBB-A3 airfoils. In three dimensions, the results include flows about the F-5 wing, a typical wing, and the AGARD rectangular wings. Viscous corrections are included in some calculations, including those for the AGARD rectangular wing. For several cases, the aerodynamic and aeroelastic calculations are compared with experimental results.

Goorjian, P. M.↗

Kasprzyk airfoil. The first wind-tunnel tests

The Kasprzyk slotted flap glider airfoil (the Kasper wing) enabling glider flight at 32 km/h and 0.5 m/sec descent speed was wind tunnel tested in the U.S. The test layout is described and reasons offered for discrepancies between wind tunnel results and Polish in flight data: high induced drag caused by relative size of model wing span and tunnel, by vortex attenuators on the model and their proximity to the tunnel wall, nonsimilarity between flow over a smooth wing and flow over the Kasprzyk wing with bound vortices, obstruction of the tunnel test chamber cross section by the model wing, discrepant Reynolds numbers, and model airfoil aspect ratio much smaller than the prototype. The overall results offer partial confirmation of the Kasprzyk theory, but further in tunnel and in flight studies are recommended.

Wusatowski, T.↗

Data from tests of a R4 airfoil in the Langley 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

Aerodynamic data for the DFVLR R4 airfoil are presented in both graphic and tabular form. The R4 was tested in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel (TCT) at Mach number from 0.60 to 0.78 at angles of attack from -2.0 to 8.0 degrees. The airfoil was tested at Reynolds numbers of 4, 6, 10, 15, 30, and 40 million based on the 152.32 mm chord.

Jenkins, R. V.↗

TRANSEP: A program for high lift separated flow about airfoils

A method and program called TRANSEP is presented that can be used for the analysis of the flow about a low speed airfoil under high lift, massive separation conditions. Since the present program is a modification of the direct-inverse TRANDES code, it can also be used for the design and analysis of transonic airfoils, including the effects of weak viscous interaction. Interactions on program usage, program modifications to convert TRANDES to TRANSEP, and sample cases and results are given.

Carlson, L. A.↗